I Heart Great Design

Mel String Illustrator

2009-12-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Source: We Are The Image Makers Interview with Mel String via Daydream Lily

Pretend To Be Normal

2009-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Source: AV Photography via Daydream Lily

Pretty With a Dash of Dark

2009-12-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Source: Definitely Golden

I'm really digging the entire outfit. She's too pretty and put together but then she's wearing outstanding cuffs. I love that little bit of unexpected boldness.

Most commonly used words: Pretty and Amazing

2009-12-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

Source: Wordle

Thank you to all the lovely people who are still reading up on me, I've had you guys on my mind too. Cheerios!

P.S. This Wordle was inspired by Fashion Chalet.

Give Up the White and Turn to the Dark Side

2009-12-03T19:03:00.008-05:00

Source: Dwell

I just found out about Cindy Gallop, the consultant, coach, entrepreneur, speaker and all around amazing woman! I'm pretty much just gobsmacked as I scratch the surface of this very fascinating woman, her career and life. In particular, I'm in love with her beautifully designed apartment based on a black-lacquered Chinese box concept. It's definitely an aesthetic that I'm drawn towards.

Photos of her apartment:

Source: Behance Network

What makes her amazeballs?

"Make Love, Not Porn", Cindy Gallop's TED2009 4-minute presentation in which she promotes her website www.makelovenotporn.com debunking the myths that hardcore pornography perpetuates. TED's profile of Cindy Gallop.

Wow, is all I can say because I think she's awesome sauces!

Filled with inspiration from DesignThinkers 2009

2009-11-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm pretty exhausted but in a good, super inspired kind of way! I've spent the week getting recharged and pumped about design both creatively and professionally during DesignThinkers 2009. The week of events was kicked off with a screening of Art & Copy on Monday evening, two jam-packed days of amazing speakers and studio tours on Thursday. I'm still kind of processing the past few days but I just wanted to share a few shots.

DesignThinkers 2009

2009-11-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

DesignThinkers is back for another round of design inspiration! This will be RGD Ontario's 10th annual international conference focusing on the role of design in business, society and future health of the planet. The conference takes place on November 3rd and 4th, with additional events throughout the week.

I have been to two other DesignThinkers conferences and both have been an exceptionally inspiring experiences. I've come out of these with fresh ideas, connected with other designers and industry professionals and boat loads of books to keep me inspired. It's pretty much impossible to not be inspired or amazed with an amazing lineup of speakers.

I'm pretty pumped about it already.

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Giveaway Winner

2009-10-13T09:00:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Mary Anne for winning the Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Giveaway. Thanks again for everyone who participated as it is my first time hosting something like this. I look forward to being able to host more in the future but we'll see how that goes!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T11:11:00.002-04:00

Ah! I have things to do as I will be hosting tonight's dinner but I can not step away from this little darling. Watching this little pet of muscle just entrances me and evaporates my stress...

Oh yes, I must return to the roasting of turkey and sweeping of floors!

A Dress Made of Clouds

2009-10-11T14:26:00.002-04:00

Source: The Avenue A

All I have to do is add a tight leather jacket and I think I can still sport this in the ever growing cold weather.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

2009-10-01T15:35:00.006-04:00

Yo, I wanna wax poetic but I'm not that eloquent. So I'm going to share with you something more powerful than I can ever hope to write at this current junction of my life.

Our Deepest Fear

By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others. ♥

The negative/overwhelming emotions have been stifling my creative process and I've been letting myself get caught up in this turmoil. I didn't want to unleash all kinds of emo here but I really need to get this off my chest, embrace my feelings so that I can get it all out of my system. I have some great people around me and I love that I have their support through this time. So for that, I want to give them kitteh huggles.

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Giveaway

2009-09-26T12:00:00.001-04:00

Aw you guys are lucky because I get to host my first giveaway and it's going to be sweet. I'm pretty sure you all know about Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Fragrance collection as it was launched last year, but here's your chance to get the entire set, for yourself or perhaps someone special.

How to Enter:
All you have to do is leave a comment with your name and e-mail, telling me what you would do if you won the prize pack?

I will select a random winner by the end of the contest, get your contact information and the prize pack will be delivered to you! And for full disclosure, I didn't get any swag for this. It's all for you folks. Good luck everyone!

To enter and be eligible to win, the entrant must be a legal resident of Canada (excluding Quebec) who is over the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. One entry per person, winner will chosen at random. The giveaway ends October 12, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The contest is sponsored by Coty Canada Inc. and Matchstick Inc.

Official Rules & Regulations
The Contest will run from September 26, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) [ET] to October 12, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. [ET] (the “Contest Period”). The contest is sponsored by Coty Canada Inc. and Matchstick Inc. (the “Sponsor”). The contest is hosted by (“The Host”).
1. To Enter: No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Limit of one (1) entry per household, per person, per email address.
Enter online: Go to < http://iheartgreatdesign.blogspot.com > (the “Contest Website”) during the Contest Period, complete the fulfill contest entry specifics and submit as instructed. Any attempt or suspected attempt to enter more than once shall be deemed as tampering and will void all of your entries. Any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or entry methods not authorized by these rules will void all entries affected by such methods and shall also be deemed as tampering and will void all of your entries.
General Conditions of Entry: By entering this contest, all entrants consent to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information by Sponsor and Host for the purposes of running the contest or for any other purpose to which entrants consent. Once submitted, entries become the exclusive property of The Host and The Sponsor and will not be returned. Personally identifiable information received will be used by the Host only to verify eligibility, ship samples and award prizes. Upon completion of the contest, The Host will destroy any and all entries and personally identifiable information for all contestants. All personal information received by the Sponsor will only be for the purposes of fulfilling the prize and collected, used and stored in accordance with its Privacy Policy, located at: www.matchstick.ca/privacy.htm
2. Eligibility: To enter and be eligible to win, an entrant must be a legal resident of Canada (excluding Quebec) who is over the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. Employees of or those residing with an employee of Coty Canada Inc, the Sponsor or Host, their agents, representatives, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and dealers, advertising and promotional agencies, sponsors, suppliers of prizes, materials or services related to this contest, including the independent judging organization are not eligible to enter this contest.
This contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations. Each entrant is only eligible to win one (1) prize during the Contest Period.
3. Prizes to be awarded: Entrants are eligible to win one (1) Harajuku Lovers Fragrance prize packages with an approximate retail value of $250.00 each.
The Sponsor reserves the right in the event that a Prize or any component of the Prize cannot be awarded as described for any reason, to substitute another Prize of equal or greater value, without liability.
Any costs or expenses incurred by the winner in claiming or using his/her prize will be the responsibility of the winner. Winner is responsible for all taxes and expenses which are not included in the prize description above.
In the event of a dispute, entries shall be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an internet access provider, on-line service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Illegible entries, bulk drop-offs, mechanical reproductions or facsimile entries are ineligible.
4. Winners: A winner for the contest will be selected by The Host and announced October 13, 2009 on or around 12:00 p.m. EST. Selected entrants will be contacted by telephone and/or email at the Host’s discretion. Only the selected entrants will be notified. Before being awarded the prize, selected entrants must first correctly answer without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question with the Sponsor. If an eligible entrant is selected but cannot be reached after four (4) attempts and the skill-testing question is not administered within 20 business days of the selection, the selected entry will be deemed void and an alternate entrant may be selected. Only upon signing and returning the Declaration and Release Form described below in Rule 5 and correctly answering the skill-testing question, will a selected eligible entrant be declared an official winner.
5. Release Forms: The selected entrants of a prize will be required to sign and return, within the time stipulated by the Sponsor, a full release and indemnity form (“Declaration and Release Form”) stating that he/she has read and understood these Official Rules and Regulations (“Official Rules”), grants all consents and authorizes the Sponsor to broadcast, publish and disseminate his/her name, address, photograph, likeness, sobriquet and voice, in connection with any promotion or publicity, and/or for general news, entertainment and information purposes relating to this Contest at no additional compensation, beyond the awarding of the prize. Selected entrants must also agree to accept the prize as offered. The Declaration and Release Form also releases The Sponsor, The Host, its affiliates, subsidiaries, related companies, and all their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents, successors and assigns from and against any and all liability, claims of damages and causes of action, of any kind whatsoever, whether at law or in equity, and including but not limited to death, personal injury and loss or damage to property, that the winner or any of the representatives, heirs, next of kin or assignees (collectively, “Representatives”) may have or which may hereinafter accrue to the winner’s Representatives as a result directly or indirectly from their participation in the contest or receipt or use or acceptance of the prize. In the event of non-compliance with these requirements (as applicable) or with these Official Rules, or if prize notification is returned undeliverable, Sponsor shall have the right to disqualify the potential winner, and select an alternate potential winner and shall be fully and completely released and discharged from any liability or responsibility in this regard.
6. Limitations of Liability: Neither The Sponsor nor The Host will be liable for: a) any incomplete, incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, whether caused by the Contest Website users or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest, or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of entries; b) the theft, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; c) any problems with, or technical malfunctions of, telephone networks or lines, computer on-line systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, viruses or bugs; d) any failure of any email to be received by or from Sponsor for any reason including but not limited to traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or combination thereof, interrupted or unavailable networks; e) damage to a participant’s or other person’s system occasioned by participation or downloading of materials in this Contest; f) late, delayed, damaged, misdirected, destroyed, lost, illegible, incomplete, incorrect, fraudulent, stolen, postage-due or wrongly addressed entries which will be deemed void.
7. Right to Terminate: The Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion to terminate, suspend or modify this Contest, without notice, at any time should i) any electronic messages or any other materials used in this Contest be tampered with, mutilated, altered, forged, reproduced, not legitimately obtained; or ii) other types of fraud are suspected; or ,iii) entries are illegible or contain or reflect printing, production or other errors; or iv) virus, bugs, technical failures, human, printing or distribution errors or any other cause beyond the control of the Sponsor corrupt the administration, security, safety, fairness, or proper conduct of any element of this Contest as described in these Official Rules. Without limiting the foregoing, if, for any reason, the contest is not capable of running as originally planned should any error, whether human, electronic or otherwise, or any other event interfere with its proper conduct as contemplated by these Official Rules, Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the online portion of the contest and conduct the draw from all other previously received eligible entries.
8. Miscellaneous: By entering, entrants agree to abide by the Official Rules and agree that the decisions of The Sponsor and The Host are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The prizes must be accepted as awarded and no transfer or substitution of the prize, whether for cash or otherwise, will be permitted except as expressly provided in these Rules or at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prize may not be exactly as shown on Promotion publicity or promotional materials. The Sponsor reserves the right to substitute this prize with a prize of equal or greater value if for any reason the prize cannot be awarded as contemplated in these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify, from this Contest and any future contest, sweepstakes or other Contest conducted by Sponsor, any individual that it finds or believes to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or Contest Website; to be acting in violation of the Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Deborah Ann Woll

2009-09-13T09:55:00.006-04:00

AKA Jessica Hamby of True Blood.

I have yet to see more of her, other than what I've seen of her in True Blood, but she's going into my pretty girl crush files. She can do sweet and sultry and I can't wait to see more of her.

P.S. I'm still an episode behind on True Blood and the finale's showing tonight. I'm sort of dragging my heels on catching up just because I don't want it to end yet. I do enjoy having something to look forward to!

Mornings Often Burn

2009-09-09T08:21:00.002-04:00

Even when you think you're ready for it, the light engulfs you in the mornings. Sometimes, the windows are covered and sleep continues unhindered but sometimes, they're uncovered and the light creeps slowly on your skin until every cell in your body knows it is the waking hour.

Source: Alvaro Puentes, Flickr via Le Fashion

One of Each Please

2009-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yeah, remember when I mentioned those Unicorns Fight ring by Matina Amanita. Afterwards, every post I read on my Google Reader mentioned even more rings that make my pretty little eyes widen with glee.

Source: Fleathers on Etsy via Susie of Style Bubble

Yeah, I would rock that wild kingdom on my hand any day.

Listen to The Tender Box

2009-08-30T19:23:00.005-04:00

I really love their sound and I've been playing them nonstop. I'm keen on seeing them play here in Toronto, Sep 28, 2009 at the Phoenix w/ She Wants Revenge & Kill Hannah.

Source: www.thetenderbox.com via www.zucket.com

You can also check out them out at myspace.com/tenderbox.

Something different with my hair

2009-08-28T19:13:00.008-04:00

I'm thinking about it again, doing something drastic with my hair. It's taken my 5+ years to grow out my hair since I cut it all off into a short bob up to my ears. I didn't really enjoy the shortness but I still want to do something different with my hair. That or get a tattoo, but I think that requires much more deliberation.

I think going super pink would be amazeballs! Take for example Gala Darling and Tarina Tarintino.

Source: Gala Darling, Gala's Flickr, Tarina Tarantino

But then again, I'm not sure my complexion will work as well. I'm also not keen on the being a high maintenance kind gal. My hair grows pretty damn quick so roots will definitely be an issue. Or how about something with a little less commitment and maintenance! I could rock out a wig à la Natalie Portman in Closer.

Source: Cheapskate Chick

Then I came across this... and my future suddenly became clear, hair-wise at least. Everything else is still a bit muddled.

Source: Vintage is the New Black

That is all.

Deer with lasers

2009-08-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

If deer had lasers and if they were to fight, I'd imagine it would go alot like this. Or maybe they are making eye love. Whatever, I thought it was neat so you should check it out.

Source: John Espinosa, FROZEN UPON ENTRY (2002)

Aww, they think they're people!

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Source: 25 Unbelievable Pictures You May Have Never Seen Before Part 2

After the week I've had, the only thing I can hope for is that I am happy with myself, to be good person and hopefully let my light shine a little brighter. I don't mean to vague up my troubles, but know that I'm on a good path. May these little inspirations help you as much as they have helped me smile.

I Employ Magical Thinking

2009-08-20T12:03:00.004-04:00

This is a maxim I wish to integrate into my life. And I'm really trying hard to call out to the universe, the world in bring back magic into my life right now because I'm going through something pretty heavy that's been weighing in on my head and heart these past few days.

Source: For Me, For You Etsy Shop, For Me, For You Blog

I really want to find my spark again.

Unicorns are everywhere!

2009-08-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

It's Thursday guys! I know that unicorns will get you through till the weekend.

I saw this and went from "I want to ride a unicorn" to "Damn, I want to be THE unicorn"!

Source: Evolution of unicorn outfit by Doe Deere Blogazine

I am a big ring person. If there is a particular accessory type that I gravitate towards, it would be rings. Rings and sunglasses! I collect more of them than any other accessories. In particular, I like substantial rings, rather than thin delicate pieces and often with character. Back in high school, when I went to the mall with my friends and tried on rings, I would ask them "Would you still be my friend if I wore this?". It'd be rhetorical of course because I could always find and love the most gaudiest of rings. However, these rings are kick ass, so yes, please add them to my collection. Thanks.

Source: Spotted from Vanilla Scented, Unicorns Fight ring by Matina Amanita

And you could also check out the Unicorn Diaries, a lovely blog with lots of dreamy stuff.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe

2009-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not really sure I want to see it, however I will mostly likely end up seeing it theatre. I have lowerered expectations for this movie, even lower than the expectations I had for Transformers 2 but comic book, video game adaptations always get me. I'm geeky like that

Now, I'm not a die hard G.I. Joe fan and I don't really know the series but I do recall having many Barbie parties where they guested frequently. I'm sure they had as much fun trying on Barbie dresses too!

This video is currently making the rounds on the interweb and it's pretty dang cool. It is a musical spoof of the upcoming G.I. Joe movie.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

To catch you up with some of the characters... you can read Kevinism's Top Ten G.I. Joe Villains - COBRA. Mmk, so maybe this isn't a helpful introduction to the characters but it is an entertaining read on the Cobra crew.

Because knowing is half the battle. Ha!

Source: The Battle T-Shirt

Lady Knight

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Source: Sex and Coffee

I love the headdress on this one! Eeep, it's sooo pretty! I wanna be a fairy pixie slash knight warrior, sweet!

Buffy vs Edward Remixed

2009-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Source: Jonathan McIntosh (Team Buffy) of www.rebelliouspixels.com

This is a great mashup of Twilight and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm not sure if I intend to instigate a debate on which is better because... actually I know Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a lot better story-wise and character development. I'm just not hard core bashing Twilight because I have a soft spot for teen angst movies.

I was going to make a list of the things that bothered me about the Twilight series but I think this article from www.cracked.com just explains everything so well.

In the end, if you fully disregard existing vampire mythology, suspend all logic and sensibilities of a real, balanced relationship... basically if you turn your brain off, then yeah, you could enjoy Twilight too!

You know what's better than Twilight? Twilight with Cheeseburgers!

Shop Lust: Alex Monroe Jewellery

2009-08-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

Source: Alex Monroe

Alex Monroe is a British jewellery designer who aspires to create quality, wearable, original and well priced jewellery. There is no doubt that he's achieved this mandate. I've come across his shop during my interweb hopping and what attracted me are the delicate features of the collections.

They're really pretty! Check out the shop and while you're there, you could get a piece for me.

♥ Calabria Crescent Necklace
♥ Hummingbird Necklace
♥ Love Bird Ring
♥ Swallow & Leaf Ring with Diamond Set Flower
♥ Feather Band Ring

Cinnamon & Coffee

2009-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Source: Cinnamon & Coffee

About Cinnamon & Coffee in her own words:

It's all about scrubs and high-heels, really.
Med School. Fashion. Music. Books. Starbucks. Shoes. Geeking Out. Photographs. Paris. Coke Zero. Movie Night. Cosmopolitans. Sleeping In. Violet Scrubs and Pink Flats. Ray Bans. Bows. Awkward Crushes. Comic Books. Libraries.

Anna Pope's blog chronicles her own med student life with a passion for fashion and culture! I'm inspired by her ability to continually incorporate those passions in her daily life. Recently I've been doing my best to bring more beauty into my life by celebrating the little things that catch my eye, make me smile and feel good because the time before had really left me in a rut.

So if you're like me and want to add a little bit more deliciousness into your life, you could give Cinnamon & Coffee a look-see. It also helps that she features the hotness that is Karl Urban, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto.

Cake Dog + Present Cat = Awesome

2009-08-06T16:00:00.001-04:00

Source: NinjaKitty(dot)Net

Oh yeah! I don't want to freak you or anything but this saved the day from another boring grind at work!

Zooey Deschanel at the Premiere of 500 Days of Summer

2009-08-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Source: Just Jared

As usual, Zooey's pretty and charming! I can't wait for my lady date with my best friend to see this movie, enjoy a cupcake or two and read a bunch of fashion magazines. I've been waiting for this since April.

Had a long weekend, Tuesday is my Monday

2009-08-04T13:25:00.002-04:00

Source: Fuck Yeah, T-Shirts, thanks www.twitter.com/jasonrundell

Apologies darlings, I've had quite a week, working on a super project and then immensely enjoyed a long weekend away from technology. I'm now back to the grind and hopefully have a slew of fun, pretty things to share.

Did you have a good weekend too?

Mmm cappuccino rabbit... too bad I don't drink coffee

2009-07-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is so beautiful, it's been making me happy every morning! Too bad I don't drink coffee because cappuccino art is such a pretty pick up!

Source: Cappuccino + Rabbit

Fantasy Friday

2009-07-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Tap yourself with a bit o' magic dust because it's time for Fantasy Friday. Imagine yourself going through that rabbit hole for some outrageous day trip or perhaps a mellow relaxo picnic at the park, but do it in the most gorgeous outfit! Take this moment to get out of your head, brush off all that accumulated stress the week has settled on your shoulder and have a little mind-adventure with me.

You see, I'm dreaming of taking a leisurely walk in the park enjoying my croissant and chocolate drink with the warm sunlight trickling through the green canopy. I'll settle down on lush patch of green grass with fashion and design magazines.

I'll try my hand at making this a regular column all about letting go of the everyday and let your imagination go wild. Best of all, it won't cost you a thing, I promise!

Don't forget to share with me, your own Fantasy Friday! What else would you be doing?

Source: Romantic Flower Dress Forever21, Moto Logo Jacket Armani Exchange, Disco Cluster Ring Top Shop, Jil Sander Buffalo Leather Biker Boots via net-a-porter.com

A Fucking Unicorn

2009-07-22T11:55:00.002-04:00

A FUCKING UNICORN, originally uploaded by shock.value.

Mmmagic! I hope you guys have a bit of magic today! ♥

Ruby Press is giving away free cupcakes!

2009-07-20T20:30:00.003-04:00

Ruby Press is a boutique PR agency with a beautiful blog filled with delightful inspiration. And they're currently running a giveaway to promote Viv & Ingrid's new v&i Bonbon collection of gifts and accessories.

These are so adorable AND cupcake shaped! What's not to love? I could think of a dozen things to stash in them! Candies, nuts, mints, bite-sized snack things, staples, tacks, stickers, paper clips, jewellery, cotton balls... whatever else needs containing! These cupcakes come in cherry, chocolate, gold, silver and strawberry colours which are really pretty but if I win, I would want them all in cherry! Not very creative? I think not, because it's my fave colour and I want them all neatly in a row on my desk so I will always have cupcakes in view holding my tidbits!

You know, they come in the prettiest boxes too and I think they're worth keeping on display too. I can hide even more stuff in 'em!

Source: Ruby Press

Zooey Deschanel in GQ 2009 August

2009-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that I'm crushing hard on this sassy lady? She's awesome sauces, and speaking of sauces, she's got quite a saucy photoshoot in GQ's 2009 August issue.

Source: men.style.com

Alice in Wonderland Bubble Dress

2009-07-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

There's no doubt that the hype is building momentum as promotional photos surface for the upcoming Tim Burton movie, Alice in Wonderland.

Now, blue isn't really my color but I could make an exception for this beautiful little number!

Source: Alice in Wonderland Bubble Dress in Blue, Lulu's

And while I'm dream shopping at Lulu's, might as well pick this up!

Source: Femme Fatal Dress in Brown, Lulu's

Anthropologie is Urban Outfitter's Older Sister

2009-07-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Going to Urban Outfitter has always been like shopping at a really cool friend's closet/place and with Anthropologie opening up in Toronto, first at the Shops at Don Mills and another at Yorkville, we can shop at her very fabulous older sister's closet/place. It wouldn't be a surprise that the price point will be much higher (hellooo Yorkville!) but it will still be fun to visit, window shop and daydream, ya?

Source: olanky1

Source: Anthropologie.com

Happiness is Like Peeing...

2009-07-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

day10, originally uploaded by Jeffrey Simms Photography.

Hee hee, you can all enjoy the rest of your Muuunday! Have a happy day!

Givenchy Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2009

2009-07-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm loving how the accessories in this shot! The gold crown headband, organic gold bracelets and rings!

Source: I Want I Got, Style.It, Jak & Jil Blog

A Heavenly Giveaway: Sheila Fajl Earrings

2009-07-10T21:00:00.000-04:00

Carlene, of It's Heavenly has the most pretty giveaway! I want these Sheila Fajl Earrings for myself but you know what they say? Sharing is caring! Giveaway ends on Tuesday, July 31 at midnight, pst.

Firstly:
Go to chickdowntown.com and find something you'd wear these earrings with. A pretty Alice + Olivia Dress... or maybe some Jules Smith Bangles?

How To Enter:
1. Comment: Comment on It's Heavenly with your fabulous fashion find to go along with the Sheila Fajl Teardrop Stone Oval Earrings

2. Post: Got a blog? Well post about this giveaway on it and link em' back on here. Feel free to grab the images above to lure em' in. In order to track this please email me at itsheavenlycarlene@gmail.com to confirm your entry.

3. Twitter: Got Twitter? All you gotta do is RT the following:
RT @ItsHeavenly - Enter now to win this Heavenly JulyGiveaway. http://itsheavenly.blogspot.com

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Skirting the Issue

2009-07-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

The following have been stored in my inspiration folder for a long while now but it's time to share, so here you go!

There are even a few do-it-yourself inspiration for making simple skirts!

Do-it-yourself Puff Skirt from Childhood Flames

Do-it-yourself Pink Panel Skirt from Style Scrapbook

If I ever get around to making my own, I'll definitely show them here.

Note: I will be sharing a lot from my inspiration folder. I've been hoarding so many photos from the web that I've already forgotten their original sources. Once again, I apologize for not giving credit accordingly but feel free to correct me and I will be more than happy to give credit where it's due.

Now is the time to build a brand that is bold and unique

2009-07-09T08:00:00.006-04:00

Nubby has completed her 2009 media kit, "What is Nubby" and I'm so happy that she's sharing it. It's definitely a beautiful, compelling package! Most times I have this perception that designers are quite protective of their own branding/marketing that I'm amazed when Nubby has the balls to let everyone in on her process and design. I follow a lot of tutorials and guides on putting together your own marketing package but the process itself becomes clearer when someone actually shows you the work.

Tip of the hat to you Nubby!

Source: nubbystwiglet.com

Don't hide your jewellery, display them

2009-07-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am digging the way these displays are put together!

Of course I'll have to start a collection of beautiful jewellery so that they'll be worthy of display. The following is a collection that really drew me in and I saved them in my inspiration folder, but now I'm having a hard time trying to find the original owner or store.

Here are a couple more from my inspiration folder:

I have so many images that I've saved for personal inspiration and I hope to share them here and hope they inspire you too! I'll do my best to post the source but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T16:00:00.000-04:00

Holiday festivities started yesterday as I co-hosted a casual gathering with my roomie. I'm really happy with everyone who came hope that they all had as much fun as I did! Clearly, dancing till 4am without getting a single neighbourly compaint is a sign of how truly awesome we are!

I hope you all have a great holiday, celebrating Canada Day! This one is an oldie but a goodie.

Did someone say beaver?

My Milk Toof by Inhae Renee Lee

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Oooh, I came across this does of adorable-ness! I'd describe it to you but Inhae says it better:

"When I was young, I placed my baby teeth under my pillow and when i woke up I'd find a shiny new quarter. But whatever happened to those little teeth? Where did they go? Would I ever see them again?

Many years later, a little tooth was standing at my door. It looked familiar. It's name was ickle. Welcome home, my milk toof!"

Source: My Milk Toof

Mario Testino, Best of Beauty Photoshoot, Allure

2009-06-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

I'm entranced with the gold in this photoshoot, it makes me think of being bathed in the sunlight. Did I mention that I love the sunshine?

Source: Mario Testino

Emma Watson in Teen Vogue, August 2009

2009-06-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

I'm not at all embarrassed to be keeping up with Teen Vogue, not when they've got Emma Watson wearing outfits that incite dreamy feelings. I am down with full skirts in silk or satin - with bows!

Source: Teen Vogue

ColorZilla for Firefox

2009-06-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is a must have tool to add to your arsenal as a web designer because it's small, fast and convenient. ColorZilla is an extension for Firefox featuring an advanced eyedropper, colour picker, palette viewer and more!

I've used this extension to instantly select colours from websites/images then grab the colour code and paste into my CSS directly. Or I can paste into an online colour palette generator and build a custom palette faster than it would take to load up Photoshop and do the same. I love it because it's unobtrusive and always ready to go.

Eyedropper: I see an colour I like on some random website, I want it and looky, I got it!

Main Menu: Quickly call up my menu and get the colour code and voila, ready to paste!

Palette List View: I can even save my colour selections.

Webpage Colour Analyzer: Curious to know all the colours used on a website? Don't grab it one pixel at time, let ColorZilla analyze it for you!

Yep, this one is a fantastic extension to have on hand and I highly recommend that it be part of your workflow. I'll continue to post about the tools, resources and websites that have helped me when I'm designing and developing websites. Do you have any extensions that have made designing easier for you? Let me know and see you in the comments.

Dujour Magazine is the Incarnation of Pretty

2009-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dujour magazine is a bi-monthly PRINT & DIGITAL magazine with a blog that keeps dishing out awesomeness. Editor Letitia Burrell wanted a magazine that would relay "high fashion that inspired while at the same time mixed with realistic fashion she could attain, all with a generous dose or artsy fun and intelligence". And I'm glad that she did, because they sure do deliver!

And recently, Letitia posted an article on the prettiest rooms in "If Only My Rooms Were Filled With..." which I'm clipping for inspiration. Some day soon, I'll turn my room around into something as inspiration and not just functional.

Also note, that once you start to follow their blog, you'll grow to love their confectionery addiction. You'll probably develop your own constant lust for cupcakes.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day everyone, please enjoy another consumerist holiday with lovely e-card from someecards.com , "when you care enough to hit send".

I really like this particular card because I'm the middle child with two brothers. Of course, my dad does tend to spoil/favour me, often calling me "son" but it wasn't until recently that he explained that he's been calling me "sun" for sunshine! Which I think is the sweetest thing, coming from a man who has a hard time verbalizing mushy things like saying "I love you". So I think he'd get a kick out of this little gem!

So check them out when you need to quickly send a little something out. I have been using someecards.com for a long time now because it's cheeky and easy to use. They've since added the ability to create your own cards but they're selection of snarky humour continue to grow and relevent with current issues.

Floating Sofa by D.K.wei

2009-06-20T19:28:00.007-04:00

Image from Flickr, via Yanko Design, Form Beyond Function.

Mmm, this would make for a delicious floating bed! I was just telling my mum that I would love an all-white, super comfy bed set that would feel like I'm sleeping in a cloud. Lo and behold, I come across this piece of genius! It doesn't exist in form yet... but someone sure got the ball rolling on this. I expect this to be on my door step by Christmas.

This Cloud Sofa will certainly go very well with your own Personal Moon. But then again, I prefer to sleep in the dark with as little stimuli as possible. Sometimes, I even put a scarf over my alarm clock or turn it away. I cherish my sleepy time very much!

Designs' Client Relationship as it Applies to Real Life Situations

2009-06-18T14:44:00.002-04:00

Oh so silly, you'd be surprised that this actually happens. Or maybe you won't. If anything, it'll give you a chuckle.

Art Star Craft Bazaar 2009 Postcard

2009-06-05T12:24:00.004-04:00

M. Patrizio recently went to the Art Star Craft Bazaar 2009 and picked up some beautiful postcards, designed by Julie West. She was kind enough to send one to me and not only that, she also included a set of the most adorable stickers! Even her envelope was beautiful! Thank you Marilyn!

I Have to Remind Myself to Stay Inspired

2009-05-30T02:49:00.012-04:00

There comes a time when I feel a wee bit overwhelmed with current projects that I start to burn out. So I dip into my "Creative Inspiration" folder to keep myself inspired. I would love to credit them accordingly, unfortunately, I haven't marked their owners diligently, so I hope you don't mind if I skip out on the source for now.

Do you have your own "Creative Inspiration" folder? Or perhaps you have hard copy clippings tucked away on your desk inside an inspiration book?

Well, I'll rest my eyes on these lovely pieces for a while longer and get myself motivated to tackle more work!

Brent Barson’s F is for Fail

2009-05-04T21:47:00.002-04:00

Veer presents a typographic tale through the alphabet, F is for Fail by Brent Barson! He's a very cool guy and his short film, worth a look-see. Besides, with a title like that, aren't you intrigued?

Just another tasty tidbit from yours truly!

When I See You, I Feel Warm Because...

2009-04-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

Via Le Love

I Want to Dress Like a Cupcake Too

2009-04-25T20:01:00.004-04:00

These photos are from Drop - Fashion Street Snap, Snap 3033 via The Clothes Horse. Inspired by Luella Spring 2009? I'm not sure, but I do know that I want cupcakes now.

Just Enough Sunshine On Her Eyes

2009-04-25T02:32:00.002-04:00

From Le Fashion, by way of Nightmare Brunette

Tokidoki Screensaver Now Available

2009-04-21T08:04:00.000-04:00

I'm a sucker for beyond-adorable illustration and Tokidoki now has a screensaver that even updates itself with new themes. Ah, incredible sweetness delivered straight to your desktop!

Now granted, I prefer to just turn my monitors off but once in a while I get interested in seeing something other than a two large black holes on my desk.

I had the Fliqlo screensaver on for a while, but I started to notice a bit of ghosting and that's a dealbreaker for me. Still, it was very pretty while it lasted.

♥ Huggles

The Magic of Logo Design

2009-04-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

A great deal of people have already written about what makes a great logo and many more have put together collections, showcases, studies of great/bad logos that I don't feel it necessary to further flood the interweb with my own thoughts on the matter. Others have fully and eloquently expressed the process better than I ever could, so from them, I will learn and pass that knowledge on.

Some day soon, I will share with you my own process of branding myself but right now, I am still trying to figure that out. Go figure, as a designer it is my privilege to help create logos for other people and to my own detriment, I have yet to design my own but I digress. Without further adieu, the following are my personal resources on logos.

Showcases

Brands of the world
Comprehensive resource to browse and access thousands of logos around the world.
Logo Pond
Identity Inspiration
Logo of the Day
Logo Design Inspiration - Daily!
Web2List
Collection of Web 2.0 Logos
The Logos of Web 2.0 by The Font Feed
A breakdown of the different trends of Web 2.0, from softies, futurists, classics and new classics.
Logo Design Trends 2009 by 1stwebdesigner.com
An Exciting Showcase of 2009 Logo Trends by Graphic Design Blog
Logo Lounge 2008 Trends
Your Logo Makes Me Barf
Even the website isn't pretty, but it gets the point across right?
Best and Worst 2008 by Brand New

Tips, Guides and Branding

Famous Brand History by Logo Orange
It's always a treat to learn the history of a logo or of anything else, for that matter.
5 Vital Logo Design Tips by David Airey
45 Rules for Creating a Great Logo Design by Tanner Christensen
The Power of Personal Branding by Nubby Twiglet
Branding Firefox by Jon Hicks
Firefox Logo Guide
See the work above in action.
Corporate Brand Guidelines
A collection of brand guidelines for various companies, this one is especially useful for times when you've completed a logo design.
ESPN Brand Identity Guide
81 of the Best Logo Design Resources
Even more links to wrap your mind around! A huge list covering topics from type, history, trends, books, tutorials and even more showcases!

And this article ain't complete without the amazing Make My Logo Bigger!!! cream.

The Best Online Colour Tools and Guides for Web Design

2009-04-18T10:10:00.004-04:00

The following is a collection of colour resources that have been helpful in generating colour palettes and transition from print to web.

Color Schemer Online
A simple and easy guide to make a quick colour palette.

COPASO by COLOURlovers
An advanced colour palette tool to create colour schemes and themes. You can extract colours from an image, colour picker and use the colour wheel for more ideas.

Kuler by Adobe
A collection of colour palettes with the ability to share and download palettes from the community.

Colorotate
Browse colour palettes or create your own with the ability to adjust, mix and blend in a 3D format. Simple but fun.

Color Explorer
A formidable online tool for generating your own color palette. It features the following abilities: create a palette from an image, colour picker, colour libraries including W3C named colours, web and websafe colours, TOYO, RAL, TRUEMATCH and FOCALTONE, colour-matching with various algorithms and even an analysis and conversion tool for different colour systems. This tool is a real gem.

myColor myIdea by Pantone
More of an inspirational, colour explosion than a tool but it does allow you to see the Pantone colours beautifully.
Color Scheme Designer
Ad advanced color scheme generator, practically has all you need to make wise palettes without the colour theory knowledge.
Color Palette Generator by DeGraeve.com
This one is for the times when just want to use an existing image and extract a colour palette from it. So, so easy!
Converting Pantone Colors to RGB
A must-have quick guide for translating colours from print to screen. This is especially useful when you are maintaining consistency of corporate identity through various mediums.
Conversion from Pantone to RGB and Hex HTML
Similar to the one above, just another guide to help out.

Barquentine Skirt by Makool Loves You

2009-04-18T01:56:00.004-04:00

Ooh, a very pretty skirt with a bow and mine if I had the expendable bones for it. Unfortunately, I do not. My fabulous roomie, K is into retro, vintage fashion, altering and making her own clothes. Maybe she can help me make this one, granted I have not sewn anything together since I made clothes for Barbie with my cousin when we were younger.

Did you notice that it has pockets too? Sweet!

Check out Makool Loves You for more prettiness.

500 Days of Summer

2009-04-17T23:02:00.003-04:00

Speaking of the lovely Zooey Deschanel, I wanted to share the trailer for her upcoming movie with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I'm looking forward to seeing this one.

I also enjoyed her movie with Jim Carrey, Yes Man. It was a sweet, light comedy.

I'm sure you know that she's a singer too, oh what you don't? Yeah, she does.

Munchausen by Proxy (Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva) - Uh-huh

Munchausen by Proxy (Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva) - Keystar

Munchausen by Proxy (Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva) - Sweet Ballad

Lovely in motion

2009-04-17T21:04:00.000-04:00

As part of my ongoing quest to further fill my life with design, beauty and love, the following are videos that bring me joy. It really depends on my mood but right now I prefer to derive inspiration from light, happy scenes with a dash of cheekiness! Perhaps these will add a bit of light to your day.

A light romantic and breezy music video of Lucky by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat.

A cheeky video, "Charlie The Unicorn: Charlie Goes to Candy Mountain" by TypeQueen of NewGrounds and SecretAgentBob on YouTube.

Wonderful wardrobe that I'd love to own starring one my girl crushes Zooey Deschanel for Cotton.

Oh only if my days could be spent so carefree while riding cute bicycles, eating delicious cupcakes and following balloons. Commercial for Miss Dior Chérie.

From the Beginning: Desiging for Yourself

2009-04-17T14:40:00.000-04:00

As a full-time employed designer for a studio, I have found myself lacking motivation and inspiration to continue my own designs and artwork. I recognized this a long time ago, though my work has kept me engaged with design, it has not allowed me to completely explore my own creative flavour.

Now is the time for me to kick myself into gear and finally put together a website for myself, one that fully encourages and encompasses my own imagination without limits. I need it to be my portfolio and personal platform to share my thoughts, advice about the things I've learned so far and goals for the future.

Follow me on my journey of self-improvement and quest for creative fulfillment. I will go through obstacles and bouts of procrastination but I will do my best to overcome these, because it is time to stop letting my own self-doubt and fear keep me from achieving greatness on my own terms.