Vegan Yum Yum

My new favorite website is http://www.veganyumyum.com/. This blog-esque site reminds me of America's Test Kitchen; for the vegan. The author, Lolo of Boston is extremely knowledgeable. She takes you step by step through classic recipes and shows you how to convert them to be vegan. Her recipes are lovely and each step is broken down with beautiful magazine worthy photographs. She just completed her first cook book that I am defintely going to pick up. I think you should too. You can check out the book here: Vegan Yum Yum: Decadent (But Doable) Animal-Free Recipes for Entertaining and Everyday

MyWeddings.com Mention!

I am very excited to have been mentioned on MyWeddings.com! The article features an interview with Alissa & Rich who I had the pleasure of working with this past summer. I designed all of the papergoods for their "Vintage Rustic Chic" wedding including the Ceremony Programs, CD favors, Signage, and Itineraries. Check out the article!

• MyWeddings.com Article
• My papergoods website: www.KraftandKind.com

Resurrecting an old love.

Once upon a time photography was my passion. If I was seen without my camera people would ask if something was wrong. I documented every thing, every event. It was even my major in college. But as time went on the cost of buying film and printing photos became burdensome. I also realized that I wasn't experiencing moments, just trying to capture them on film. So I shelved my cameras and they began collecting dust somewhere deep in my closet.

When digital cameras came onto the scene, like most photographers, I was against them staying true to the tradition of film cameras. Well, it's been about eight years now since digital became mainstream and I finally made the big leap!

I can now combine my love of digital art with my personal photography! How exciting!

Here are some images that I captured over the past week, would love to hear your thoughts!

More to come!

New Ventures

Ideas become sketches, sketches become prototypes, a plethora of business names are brainstormed, dot com's are purchased. This is how it usually happens, starting a new business that is. Over the past few weeks I have been cooking up some new ideas with some very talented friends of mine. I am very excited about these new ventures and know you will be too!

They are: Modern Nostalgia - Handcrafted Accoutrements and Kraft & Kind - Paper Goods.

It all started with my best friend's wedding.
.............................................................. .............................................................. ..............................................................

Modern Nostalgia - http://www.modernnostalgiala.com/
I collaborated with the bride and another friend to create all of her bridal accoutrement's from her headpiece/hat/veil to her bustle & petticoat - all with a fabulous Vintage Rustic Chic theme. We took a simple white wedding dress and created what was probably the most beautiful and unique couture wedding gown I have ever seen (if I do say so myself) (detail photos below). So great in fact that the photos will soon be published in magazines thanks to the genius photographer / photojournalist Laura Grier of Beautiful Day Photography. The three of us, with our entrepreneurial spirit just couldn't stop there and have thus created a line of custom one of a kind accoutrement's: Modern Nostalgia. We have been busy making headbands, clips, hats, pins, belts, bustles, and shrugs all with a vintage modern flare. We will have a large bridal selection as well as everyday pieces. Until our website is up and running we will be selling exclusively on Etsy. Stay tuned as we will officially launch within the next week or so.

Kraft and Kind - www.KraftandKind.com

I was so excited and honored to do the design for all of the paper goods used in the wedding. This included the rehearsal dinner & bridal shower invitations, directions card, ceremony programs, cd & cover design (which was the favor given out at the wedding), all signage, and the info booklet for out of town guests.

The wedding was 9 miles up a mountain at a farmhouse in the Santa Ynez Valley. This fantastic location with vast mountain vista views and an ostrich farm in tow was the inspiration for the Vintage Rustic Chic theme. I had free reign design-wise which is always fun and I was finally able to use my new favorite country font; Rosewood, and rock it with an elegant script giving it a modern spin.

It was such a great experience creating these items for such a wonderful occasion! So to keep the fun going, I have since created a line of paper goods called Kraft and Kind. The site is being created as I write. I will offer custom invitation design as well as greeting cards, gift tags, labels & stickers, and all things paper related for all occasions. Stay tuned...

A few of my favorite things.

If Oprah can do it, why can't I?
Check 'em out. Enjoy.

1. Design Blogs - My current favorite is Design*Sponge and their Interior Design section called Sneek Peeks. They take us into mostly mid-century modern inspired, amazingly self-decorated homes of rediculously talented people. Get a napkin, you will drool.

2. Trans Fatty Acid. Sounds like it's bad for you. But this Kruder & Dorfmeister remix of the song by Lamb is GOOD. It takes me back to the third time I read the Alchemist. Don't ask why. It is nowhere to be found through download, but I found this awesome website: Deezer - I love that I can just go to this page and it automatically plays this song. No matter how many times I crave it.

3. Nutrilicious, Natural Bakery - Vegan Donuts. They ship. Need I say more?


4. House Industries Type Foundry - So amazing, I can't even find the words. Graphic Designers if you don't already know about them check this out: http://www.houseind.com/fonts/

5. I have been collecting furniture for many years in anticipation of owning my own home. If I had the room I would probably have already purchased a door or two from Crestview Doors. This company manufactures amazing reproductions of Mid-Century Modern doors. Check out "The Grover," it holds a special place in my heart :)

The Handmade Haven

If you haven't been to www.etsy.com yet, you are not as cool as you think you are. Etsy is the online marketplace for all things handmade. If you are a craftsperson yourself it is a great place to sell your wares. If you are a shopper and like to be unique, you will find amazing items for yourself and for gifts. Whether you are into jewelry, clothing, fine art, photography, pottery, etc., you will definitely find something that you must have! There are very talented, soon to be discovered people selling on Etsy. If you are ready to replace your facebook addiction, check it out. View my store at www.susanjoydesigns.etsy.com.

Save the Trees

I hate to admit it, but I love catalogs. Paper catalogs. As a self-professed environmentalist, this is hard to share, but we all have our vices I suppose. Before my fellow tree huggers blast hate emails my way, let me explain. I'm actually not a huge shopper, but as a designer getting a well designed catalog in the mail is like strawberry pie (this is the first of many Seinfeld-isms, those who have to deal with them in person too, my apologies). There is nothing like having a bound volume of inspiration right in your hands. Many of my suppliers offer their catalogs online, but the pictures are never clear and I simply do not have the patience to deal with crappy design & slow loading times. Enter Ikea's 2009 online catalog which I stumbled upon while searching for the perfect metal baskets for my newly refurbished 1930's steel cabinet. Ikea, marketing gurus that they are, have brought the online catalog to a new level. The flash based application literally makes you feel as if you are holding the catalog in your hands. The pages actually turn and when you roll over an item it is highlighted and you can zoom in or get more information on it. The images are crisp & clear and just like the paper version they somehow make their product seem like must-haves (until you go to the store and see everything in person and you are snapped back into reality of course). Anyhow, take a look at these industry leaders and if you have an online shop with online catalogs, please take note and follow their example.