going tribal

I'm a swooner over everything tribal these days -partly because I'm a sucker for any killah geometric pattern and the other half due to the fact my career has kind of took a 180..or at least the genre of product I'm marketing for. Instead of designing for the fabulous world of fashion, I've switched gears to the fabulous world of outfitting. Cabela's baby.

It has been quite a shake-up in design style, but it's all good. The people I work with are passionate about the outdoors, just in a different sense than I am. (You will not catch me killing anything. I'll stick to hiking/camping/eating marshmellers, thank you). The work environment is great. Calm, collective and cool. Where else will you have team-building days that consist of rope-climbing courses, zip-lining, followed up by a biker bar? Ok, the first half of the day will be dedicated to meetings--brainstorm meetings that include an air-gun and "Big Idea" suggestions such as Beard Trimming/Food Day. Like beards, I swear productivity is maintained.

So when my Sanuk-wearing, avid outdoorsman, boom-goes-the-dynamite designer in crime, Casey, pointed out how "bear" my office space looked, I drew a blank (ahh so many puns, not enough time). What was I going to do with these walls some-what confining my creativity? Although I threw around the idea of putting up my own "trophy shots" -like his, only with sharks and fake-like- I decided this wouldn't necessarily lead me down the path of genuine creative stimulation.

Tribal patterns it is! Just ordered all these screen printed linens today from greenolivetextiles on Etsy...

"This inspiration for this range is Out of Africa meets big game hunter on safari. The range is quite strong and graphic, the designs have a primitive, earthy feel. They will be printed in rich brown and black on sand and brown linen. Yep, 100% linen." - textile designer of green olive

A great contemporary twist on African textiles, they will fit in my space perfectly and I can't wait to adorn my grey walls with lively prints. They will make for a great backdrop for photos, drawings and other random findings. Like this Eddie Bauer lookbook. Hallo? Let's all go to Kilimanjaro!

Might even take to a bike and go tribal this route: http://www.hulu.com/watch/210889/portlandia-bike-rider :)

Hope your weekend's treating you well!

GEMiny crickets

Update! I'm currently testing my patience with jewelry design. After frequenting Etsy and drooling over everything handmade -especially jewelry- for the past year, I figured I would finally give in to my crafty cravings and give it a shot. Bought my first gem adornment from Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co downtown for my first necklace just yesterday...a pretty, dark blue agate that I think I'll contrast with gold.

Right now, it looks something like this>

with my hope to get it to something beautiful like this>

...with my own spin of course. :)

Have a fantastic beginning to your week!

the CHAD

tonight (since it's been too long) I leave you with my brief convo with my cheesetastic, mr. hollywood, shag-wearin, celebrity real estate crush, Chad Rogers from Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, via tweeeeter (read bottom up) >

be Jealous!

(hahaha, pathetic)

Also, a print I'm feeling at the moment (the designer as well)...

 TYPE and SCRIBBLES simply RULE

Projects are coming first these days so Bear with me! Hope to get back to writing you all soon. Can't wait to share my holiday reapings and memories with you all :)

Hope the Holidays are treating you great with family and friends,
LZ

inspire my ink

as the countdown continues to a -what seems like- faster approach of Christmas than usual, I am getting super pumped for what's to come. Perhaps, what I am the most anxious for is my gift card to Blick Art Supplies. Cannot wait to get my hands on some splatterin goods. So as I have been too busy to post much this week, I have still made time to be looking for some subject-to-art inspiration. My first project will probably be a massive painting. I am trying to think of a way I can mix my styles of geometric design, subtle typography and classic photography into one piece...kind of some modern-tude.

Until I have time to post more, here's some ta-die-for prints I've been getting inspired by from Marimekko, an Finnish textile and clothing design company that's been awing admirers since the filthy 50's.

And..this real cute black & white photo of me and my lover, Franco, by the beach..

 Thx DesignLoveFest. LZ

this chick makes me tick

what a nice long break, wouldn't you agree? My posts (lack there of) reflect it. That's right, I took a long, hard hiatus from everything social media-esque..well, sort of. Twitter and Facebook are kind of a must. Too easy. Apps for smart phones are really a terrible idea because of it...

As I always do before I go to bed, I surf the blog world for inspiration and one that I keep coming back to is miss Bri Emery of DesignLoveFest. Love her. Totally someone I aspire to be someday. Not only is she sweet as sugar cane, but her style is funk-a-licious (stripes, lace, red lips, tats and a huge red bow?..come on) Not to mention, a killer graphic designer. She also is an obsessor of typography like me AND only 24 years young, like me! Yeah, you could say she got it together.

One of her most recent works has been with RUE, an online interior and lifestyle magazine, which I've been following ever since it launched. She serves as the Art Director, of course. Talent is in no way wasted there! Check out their Holiday issue. It's only their second issue and I absolutely love everything they are doing. Chock-full of gorgeous photography and whimsical word/visual pairings. My ideal career scenario without a doubt... something about working with all kinds of different creatives under one roof that make your career so much more like a playground.

My favorite Rue Issue Two feature, mitts down, would have to be Jingle Girl Rock and the cute little vid called "Ribbons" documenting the shoot (shot at the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway) to go along with. How..much fun...are these gals having? Nashville meets groovesters kind of Christmas. That's it. I'm mimicking. Now all I need is a cobblestone wall, a few choice friends and a good-looking DJ...preferably a scratcher of thee records. Know of any?

Chums, LZ

Bri, consider your fanciful footsteps followed :)

poppycock, coffee talk

Poppycock, not really. It was actually quite insightful, as all conversations in coffee shops are supposed to be right? My friend and ex-classmate Alex had a brilliant idea that we try to get together once a week to discuss our understandings of the book "Mere Christianity" by da man, C.S. Lewis. Alex is kicking my butt in word consumption (nerd) but so far, so great. I am so grateful to have somebody that's so on fire about the topic right now. It's exactly what I need.

I tease with him that he's my accountant, because he literally is. He keeps me accountable on many levels, both creatively and spiritually. We share similar passions in all things design and music related (he's a designer *check out his Haiti work* and musician) but I love how we are able to relate to each other on this spiritual level as well. Just one God-loving fella, inspiring me in more ways than one. The honesty is there and I know that these accounting "sessions" will challenge us to be better human beings.

I love coffee dates with friends. Especially ones where they let me take their picture and not label it creepy... because, it kind of is. Whatever. He understands artsy attempts..

I call it "hand on miniature coffee"

Here's to accountability..and an un-manic Monday!
Cheerio, LZ

carry on, cherry bomb

It's that kind of feeling again. Freedom. And boy does it feel good. Two songs that I started the day off with were "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles and Snow Patrol's "Just Say Yes" and both are great at bringing on your own kind of revolution from within. The timing has been perfect. With a couple co-workers, friends and a few family members getting a renewed path of their own and with it being so close to the holidays, I feel excitement..

It's almost as if your eyes have been closed for an extensive amount of time only to be opened to a few thousand Picasso's and Caravaggio's alike at lens reach. No one or anything holding you back... not even the stuffy curator.

So carry on with your bad self...creating real relationships and experiences. Feels gooood doesn't it?

  a blog project following creatives in the city...from behind. 

a personal fav > downtown from behind