Sunday, August 15th, 2010

I was just introduced to a new site that essentially allows you to make an online inspiration board.  And not only can you create your own inspiration boards, you can peek at other people’s as well!

On Pinterest, you can set up several inspiration boards, one for fashion, art, interior design, whatever it is that fluffs your peanutbutter.  After you’ve created these boards, browse the web as usual.  When you see something that strikes your fancy, you can “pin it” by simply clicking on the Pinterest button on your browser, and it adds an image of your item to the appropriate list.

This is brilliant not only for inspiration, but also for cataloging.  Planning a special project, designing a room, and need a place to keep all your sources and images in one place?  Pinterest is perfect for just that.

I like to go poking through other people’s boards.  By doing this, I find new shops I’ve never been to, blogs I’ve never read, photographers I had not yet discovered.  Take a poke through my board here.

You need an invitation to join Pinterest.  If you are seriously interested, I have four remaining invitations.  Pop me an email.  The first four people to request an invitation will get one!

Tags: Tags: creativity, Design, graphics, inspiration, interior design, Photography,

Friday, July 30th, 2010

I’ve long had a crush on Converse sneakers, namely Chucks.  That’s why I find it hard to believe that after all of this secret swooning, I got my first pair only a few months ago.

The other day, someone turned me onto the fact that you can actually design your own Chucks now.  You control everything, from the outside color, inside lining, laces, even the racing stripe.  Whoa!  You know I had to give it a go.  Here’s my experience.  You can try it yourself at the Converse website.

Tags: Tags: All Stars, Chuck Taylors, Chucks, Converse, Design, Fashion, shoes, sneakers,

Monday, July 26th, 2010

A few weeks back, I made a trip to Mass MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, MA with a good friend.  I never realized that I was lucky enough to have the country’s largest contemporary art museum only an hour and a half away.  I love visiting Mass MoCA, but I must confess, it’s been close to 2 years since I’ve been there last.

What is there not to love about Mass MoCA?  The drive to North Adams is breathtaking, they always have great shows running, they have a permanent Sol Lewitt collection, and honestly– I think I’m in love with their graphic designer.  All of their materials, the brochures, the information graphics, the billboards, the websites, everything is stunning.  Case in point: My friend was enthralled by the exhibit, while I was still standing in the doorway, admiring the font the title was in.  (Although, I don’t know whether that says more about me than the museum, but anyway.)

The major exhibit running on the day of my visit was titled Material World.  It featured room size installation pieces using many different forms of material- rope, strings, paperclips, bubble wrap, astroturf, you name it, it was fair game.  I love whole room installations.  First of all, the scale gives you such a surreal, larger than life feeling.  Secondly, it allows the viewer to be interactive with the piece, to view it from all angles and see how your experience changes.

Don’t let me forget the Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With Exhibit!  This was a little living space, housed inside a very large room.  The walls were glass, and when you looked inside- everything was upside down.  As in the furniture was on the ceiling.  And it wasn’t just the furniture, they paid attention to other details as well.  The kitchen even had an upside down french press on their upside down counter.  (These upside down people have discerning taste in coffee.)

Here are some of my images from my visit to Mass MoCA.  You can see the rest of them on my Flickr page here.

Eli Levenstein- Reading Room for Mass MoCA

Big Boss, Orly Genger

Alyson Shotz- The Geometry of Light

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle- Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With

Tags: Tags: contemporary art, installation art, modern art, sculpture,

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Everyone that knows me, knows it’s no secret that my favorite movie of all time is Amelie.  I personally think that the director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet is a genius, and can do no wrong.  You can recognize his style a mile away.  His movies are simply visually beautiful.  They almost represent a hyper-reality.  Colors are super saturated, things move fast, and zoom in close, and the characters always have exaggerated quirks.

I recently saw his latest movie, MicMacs, at the Pleasant Street Theater in Northampton.  It was uh-MAZING.  I left the theater completely blown away and wanting to watch it again instantly.  Of course it was visually stunning.  That goes without saying.  You fall in love with this lovable bunch of misfits, especially the main character, Bazil.  He’s quick, he’s sharp, and that’s not at all what people expect from looking at him.

If you’ve seen any of Jeunet’s other movies, you’ll also see a few familiar faces.

Here’s the trailer.  If you think this two minutes is phenominal, multiply that by 1000.

Tags: Tags: Amelie, french, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Micmacs, movies,

Monday, July 19th, 2010

I’ve been having a lot of creative adventures this summer, been working on some great projects, and developing some new ideas.  So in the next few posts, I’ll be catching you up.  Some of these things I may have done over a month ago, but I feel that they bear sharing.

Last week, I braved the rain (and unbelievable humidity), along with my friend Lisa, and trekked through the Brimfield Antique Fair, in Brimfield, MA.  This fair is apparently very well known by antiquers across the country, but for me, it’s always been this treasure that’s right in my backyard.  (Well, not literally, but close enough.)  We weren’t really in the market to buy anything per se (although I always feel sad if I don’t bring home something…)  My intention was to take some great photographs, and to be inspired by the beautiful craftsmanship of old things.

Let me share some of the images that I took.  You can see the rest on my Flickr page here.

All images are the property of Allison Biggs, and to be used only with credit and permission.

Tags: Tags: antiques, fair, old things, Photography,

Friday, June 18th, 2010

My good friend, and fabulous photographer,  Suzanne Larocque, approached me with an idea for a special project last week.  She explained that she had many vintage cameras, and would love to set up some still lifes with them and some flowers, do a little work in Photoshop, and get some gorgeous antique-ish images.

So, with Suzanne behind the camera, me as the stylist, and both of us begging photoshop to work what we were trying to do, we came up with a set of four images, that in our own humble opinion, will knock your socks off.  There was one point in the photo editing session, where we simultanously jumped up and said “Oh, wow!”  It is so awesome to do work that you’re passionate about, and when you get to do that work with friends, even better.

Suzanne and I plan on offering these images as note cards and art prints in the near future, and hope to collaborate on a similar project in the near future.  The vintage cameras have an appeal for photographers, but how about us graphic designers?  Think type.

Tags: Tags: antique, Art, camera, flowers, note cards, photographer, Photography, prints, vintage,

Friday, May 14th, 2010

So, it has been a while since my last post.  Sorry, guess things have been a little busy.  But school is over now for the semester, the huge projects are under control, and I felt like it would be the perfect time to share with all of you my latest project.

This year, I decided to do something I told myself I’d do for the last 5 years.  Participate in the Relay for Life.  Well, this year, I made the commitment.  I’m doing it!  The Relay for Life is a fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society, to help with cancer research, to help cancer patients and their families, as well as support cancer prevention and awareness.  This mission is personal to me.  In 2001, I lost my grandfather to a brief but intense battle with a rare form of skin cancer, and the next year, lost my other grandfather to lung cancer.  He had not smoked in 55 years.  I have had many family members struggle with cancer in one form or another, and upon thinking on it one day, realized a startling statistic– 90% of my family who has passed away, has died from cancer.  I know that no family should have to go through this, and I also know how important it is to take care of myself, with cancer being so prominent in my family history.

I’ve gotten together with a group of friends to raise money and participate in the Relay.  We’ll be walking around the track at Springfield College from 6pm on June 4th to 3pm on June 5th.

Our team has officially been donned “Lulu’s Pie Diner.” (My previous suggestions were Walking Pneumonia and Running with Scissors.  No one shared my sense of humor or enthusiasm.)

We were really excited about the possibility of a bake sale in our fandraising future, and I was inspired by the movie Waitress, starring Keri Russell, and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly.  The entire premise of the movie circles around pies and baking (delicious pies, with funny names), so it would really lend to branding our team in a 50’s diner sort of theme.

I will be sharing with you more of the design process for our team shortly (did I mention there’s a Tshirt design contest and a tent decorating contest?  Eep!  It’s almost all I can think about!).  But for now I’d like to share with you the latest fundraising item that I have designed.  The Lulu’s Pie Diner Cookbook.  The cookbook features 6 recipes, for all of the pies featured in the movie Waitress.  There’s chocolate mousse, and custard, and other tasty treats to be found inside of these pages.

This is where I ask for your support.  Click on the link below, make a donation.  I will send you a brand spankin new, hot off the presses copy of the Lulu’s Pie Diner Cookbook.

Click here to donate. You will be brought the to Relay for Life website.

Thank you.

Tags: Tags: American Cancer Society, Bake Sale, cancer, charity, Cookbook, Pie, Relay for Life,

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

A link to this shirt came across my Twitter feed the other day, and I did a little happy dance in my seat upon seeing this design.  Along with the typographic genius (how many times can you see 2010 and love?), the shirt is a reminder for positive change.  Did I mention that it’s only $20.10?  Clever and inexpensive.

From the mouths of the designers:

“2010love is a symbol created to inspire people to make a positive change in their own lives and the lives of others, starting now. Spread the word by wearing it.”

For the month of April, the Design Sisters will be donating 10% of proceeds to The Earth Day Network, in honor of Earth Day on April 22.

Tags: Tags: change, clothing, Design, Earth Day, t shirt,

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

The newest West Elm catalog recently appeared in my mailbox, and upon opening it, a series of oohs, aahs, and nice’s flowed.  I don’t have the luxury of changing the lighting situation in my current apartment (believe me, if I could, I would), which makes these lust inducing light fixtures so out of reach.

This is once again the case of, “I can’t buy it, so you definitely should”.

Globe Pendant.

Tall Drum Pendant.  So these are sold separately, but I was inspired by this grouping.

And finally, the piece de resistance.  My absolute favorite, must-have:

Glass Link Chandelier.

Tags: Tags: chandelier, interior design, lamps, lighting, west elm,

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

I love to cook, especially for friends.  I have really been in the mood lately to try new ingredients and recipes.

Cooking really is an art, especially cooking gluten free– which as of about three years ago has become a requirement for me.  I recently found a fantastic site, The Gluten Free Goddess, which is filled with mouth watering recipes.  No gluten?  Who cares, you won’t miss it with these dishes.

Along with recipes, you’ll find photos of each dish, which makes you realize that each meal really looks as good as it sounds.

Here are a few meals that I have lined up:

Sweet Polenta Cake.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Refried Butter Beans.

Red Potato Salad with Horseradish.

All pictures belong to Karina’s Kitchen / The Gluten Free Goddess.

Tags: Tags: artichokes, brown rice, butter beans, cooking, dairy free, Food, gluten free, polenta, potato salad, recipes, vegan,