exploring

Last weekend, Josh and I drove west toward the Great Salt Lake for a "visceral" ride (his word) in his work-in-progress 1974 BMW 2002.

she lets her hair down

I haven't posted any blog graphics that I've designed for Rubi's She Lets Her Hair Down for a while, so here
are some recents. (Click the link below the images to see photo credits on Rubi's original posts.)

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

original She Lets Her Hair Down post

hand-lettered video titles

About a year and a half ago, Josh filmed this short cycling video of his friend, Jed. He edited it last week and asked if I would do some hand-lettered titling for it. After a week of procrastinating, I created them last night and was so pleased to see the finished little video this morning.



Then we began to ride. My soul
Smooth'd itself out, a long-cramp'd scroll
Freshening and fluttering in the wind.
Past hopes already lay behind.

-Robert Browning

script and string

Last week, I decided I needed to make letters out of a material other than pen on paper or on the computer. I decided on string, sheets of blue card stock, and mini glue dots to hold stubborn pieces in place. It was no perfect thing, but it was a solid first attempt, and I had fun doing it.

Additionally, there was something satisfying about its non-permanence. After I took a few photos, I pulled up the strings, and the design disappeared.

before it gets too warm

I want summa this right now.

sketchbook —> digital

I finally scanned in a bunch of sketchbook pages that I worked on lately. I can't seem to get enough hand lettering in my life.

1. Sometimes it's hard for me to want to get ready for bed—brush and floss my teeth, wash my face, etc.—but it's always hardest on Sunday nights after a fun weekend.
2. This was something I heard at church. Hopefully what's important to you is also good. If it's not, reevaluate your priorities.
3. Something I thought during a conversation.
4. Some people at work and I rotate bringing in treats every Thursday. I get super excited about it, obviously.

a real human being

The lighting in this photo made me think of Drive, which made me think of this funny illustrated review of Drive:

I can tell this theme song, A Real Hero, is going to be stuck in my head forever. It’s really good and catchy, but the lyrics are sung by a girl with weird standards when it comes to what makes dudes worth singing about. “You have proved to be a real human being!!! And a real hero…and a REAL HUMAN BEING!!!” Maybe she’s dated a lot of robots?

sleddin' down island park dam

On our way up to Idaho (on my b-day!) we stopped at Karen Foster's to borrow a stack of sleds (snowboogies). My mom is the nicest, because last year we broke one of the sleds we borrowed.

It's kind of tough to find good sledding in the Island Park area (last year we sledded onto a road), but we persevered and found a great place where we wouldn't annoy all of the intense, Presidents Day weekend snowmobilers—the dam. It was a looong, fast way down and a slooow, sweaty way up, so after a while, we decided we were too lazy and moved 100 yards away to the smaller section of the dam, where we built a big jump.

We had a few minor injuries ( a bloody nose (mine), and scratched up cheeks with forehead and nose cuts due to sunglasses impact (Sara's)), but it was good time.

the division of gravity

I was working on a freelance design project last night when I noticed Josh watching a little film on his computer. It was so beautiful and so sad (two things that I love a good mixture of), and I couldn't help but watch the rest of it from where I sat.

After it was over, I said, "Breakups are so sad." Josh said, "Yeah, they were sad."

Were. :)




Watch this. (Warning: there are swears.) Words are below.

After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning, and company doesn't mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts, and presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open

And you learn to build all your roads on today

Because tomorrows ground us, too uncertain for plans

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth

And you learn and learn

With every goodbye, you learn

After A While by Veronica A. Shoffstall

depth of speed lettering

Josh has been wanting me to do some lettering as an end title sort of thing

for some of the short documentaries he's been working on lately.

I finally got down to business last night, and this is what I came up with.

Also, I'm really excited that it's March. It's going to be a busy month!