HBD MJ

I hope the King of Pop has found peace way up there.

collection 006 / luminous + light

[I'm loving all of these bright and beautiful days we've been having in the CLE lately.  Days where partly cloudy and brightly back lit, overcast skies seem to make color just radiate from the source.   Except for in my apartment, where the lack of windows / blah wall color just ain't cuttin it.  But that's what things like Photoshop and exposure and fancy instrgram filters are for right?]

A few things I love that are lit perfectly in airy, crisp, luminous light.  Next week, I'm going to be all crazy for dark and muddled.  You know, just cause I like to switch it up like that.

ombre necklace / 

lightening bolt studs / 

ceramic bowl (via jessica comingore) / 

interior 1 (via miss moss) /

interior 2 /

brass ring by young frankk/

a pretty face /

Japanese floral tape / 

Something For You // iPhone Wallpapers

Claire, from one of my favorite blogs, fellowfellow, always gets me inspired to draw, create and build. Her blog is a beautiful assortment of  photographs from the most interesting locations (she lives in Singapore!!), simple and well-done DIYs and a peak into her lovely life. She's got some killer graphic design skills and shares them with her readers in the form of {Freebies!}, which are her designs on pretty, printable gift tags, iPhone wallpapers, etc. Did I mention you can get these FO FREE?  Check them out, they are rad!

I've downloaded a few of her wallpapers images and I decided I wanted to make some of my own too, as a way to share with yous guys and to thank you for coming all the way over to this here blog.  So, here you go, round 1 of some FREE stuffs for your phone :)

[iPhone Instructions] Get one of the wallpapers on your phone by:

1 / First navigating to this blog post on your phone.

2 / Then hold your finger over the image you like until a menu pops up.

3 / Press "Save Image" the image to your camera roll.

4 / Then, go to your camera roll press the little arrow in a box button in the bottom left corner.  This will give you a bunch of options, one of which is to "Use as Wallpaper."  And, boom, DONE.

*You can probably also select a image to use for a wallpaper or homescreen somewhere in your settings, if you happen to use an Andriod phone or something else.  I'm not sure, I'm an iPhone elitist, so I don't concern myself with such things too often (HA, I kid.)

Enjoy!

From the Weekend

I spent a lot of time playing with a big girl camera (read : Nikon DSLR) this weekend, in hopes that with a bit of patience, practice and a 300-page manual, I may be able to figure how to take a decent looking photograph with something other than my iPhone.

What I got was frustrated, because I basically wanted to turn the camera on and immediately channel some sort of Ansel-Adams-protege-photography-savant-geniusness.  That did not happen and so frustration set in in about 4 minutes.  Here's what I got instead:

An out-of-focus kitty, who thinks he's my shadow, a basket of cherry tomatoes from Patterson Farm and some ugly rocks I painted.  So I'm a weird-o, rock hording, cat lady who likes little fruits.  File that in your "Things I Never Cared About, But Now Know" memory bin.  Based on this image, I can only get better, right?

Yeah, ok, things started to get a little much better.  Here are some product shoots from the Fall collection that will be in the shop soon! (Barely even retouched in Photoshop! Expensive cameras are are so good.)

Happy Monday!

Re-branding.

[aka the slippery slope I like to call "excessive re-branding."  And while it may be impractical to change your logo / color scheme / fonts / blog layout every few months, this what I love most about this little business of mine, so that is how it shall be.]

Biznass cards. Oh, the possibilities:

So, it's been a lot dead over here on the blog and that's a little bad, but mostly good.  Things like recovering, relaxing and restocking after my first show have been at the top of the list and I am slowly, but surely, making my way back to this little corner of the internet I love so much.  I cannot even begin to explain how amazing the show at Art in the Petit Parc was and I want to send out a much belated THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone involved :) I really had the time of my life and have not stopped smiling since!

One of the small, nit picky, misses I had for my show (and lucky for me, I really had none) was that I didn't order enough biznass cards to go along with all of the sales.  I knew this might be a problem before hand, so tried to create some cards at Kinko's on the quick and cheap, which resulted in a lackluster performance: hand-cut, flimsy, pieces of paper, with a blurry and off-color logo and image. I'd show proof, but I tossed them shortly after, to erase all traces of my sub-par planning and design.  Just trust me, they were horrible.  You may have gotten one and not even noticed how ragged the edges were.  But I did.  Details.  Anyway, I am a mere month away from my next show -- Tremont Art Walk at Banyan Tree, Friday 09/14 -- so I wanted to get a head start on new cards.

Above are a few ideas for new business cards.  I may regret asking this, but, your thoughts, please?  If you could so kindly leave a comment, it would mean the world to me!

Art in the Parc // Preview of the Goods

[Craft fair madness has fully taken over my apt, life, waking and dreaming thoughts...]

I'm so pumped to participate in Art in the Parc in just NINE days, so I thought I'd share some of the Summer/Fall 2012 collection that I've been working on in order to woo you into checking out the shop --which is on SUPER SALE-- or coming to visit me at the event!

Don't ask me why, but for some reason I was highly inspired by this native/warrior/jungle theme.  This 2nd collection is a bit edgier and more experimental in use of materials (ie. ombre thread and semi-precious, gemstones) and color (saturated blues, greens and even red!).  Still rocking lots of beads and brass, but it's kind of nice to see some evolution in what you do.  Change is good, eh?  Yep yep, I do believe it is.

I'm not sure if having just one show under my belt will be some sort of game changer for this hobby-turned-to-obsession ... that's trying to become a business.  But, it certainly feels like the wheels are finally picking up some speed!

All images taken with my iphone on Instagram (on_the_lookout)! 

Sneakers + Dresses

[My ultimate, summer uni for this hothothot-assed, glorious, Ohio weather.]

via (1)(2) via onthelookout on pinterest; (3) anarchy street blog; (4)(5) Sincerely Jules.

Some Damn Fine Type & Inspiring Words

[ T minus 22 days until the Art in the Petit Parc Craft Show. (Breathe, Erica, breathe...)  At this point, workin' hard is an understatement... mostly because I am trying to keep any first-timer, freak outs at bay.

Some nights, my eyes get weary, hands get a little shaky and that eerie, late-night silence gets a bit unnerving.  These words are my up-til-3am-crafting cheerleaders. Go get it girl. ]

(aka go the EFF to bed.)

So far, I am thoroughly enjoying this journey that is taking the biz to the next level :)  All images via my pinterest typography and quotes board.

Photograph // Cat Love

[Just because a kitty photobombing what would be a super cute picture is totally typical.  Love it.]

From here and via Miss Moss.

Big News!

[GIGANTIC things are starting to happen around here...]

It's been a while since I've been doing the regular blogger thing and I wanted to apologize and say that better posing behavior is on the way.  But, I've had good reason, as something super exciting (eeek!!) and fun is happening, this July 20th...

You see, on the lookout was invited to participate in it's FIRST CRAFT SHOW EVER!  I got the news last week and have been so insanely excited, I almost haven't known what to do.  Literally, my mind is spinning on where. to. start...  I foresee tons of work and some stressful moments on the horizon.  BUT, such is life eh?  Craft ON!  And if you are of the local Cleveland variety, why not pencil in Art in the Petit Parc Craft Chow on your list of to do's for next month? :)

The show will be thrown by Chatreuse, a graphic design company run by three, pretty ladies on the West Side of Cleveland.  It will feature local artists, many of whose work I have seen and purchased before.  I am SO fortunate to get to share some craft fair space with these creative folk!  The city of Cleveland gets a lot of crap from those on the outside, but it really is one of those places where the community is super tight-knit and supportive.  The perfect sort of city to throw caution to the wind in and start your own jewelry business in...

My first step to tackle this crafty event is to list out everything that must be done by the end of this week.  I've divvied up this project into 5 parts: Planning, Product, Marketing, Display and Set up.  That way I can have an actual plan of attack for each very different stage of the process.  Planning begun last week and consisted of sourcing all needed supplies - beads, findings, chain, leather cord, ribbon, brass, gemstones. Mega beading loot.  While that stuff is on it's way to my mailbox, I'll be using the transit time to create product.  After that, getting the word out will be the most important.  Once there's a little buzz, I figure I can retreat a little to create a custom display for said jewelry.  So, you see, there is a little bit of method emerging!  And as always, any tips would be much much appreciated!

OK, onward.  A messy studio needs to be cleaned and manyMANY lists need to be made...

(Just a quick shout out: Much thanks to fellow Cleveland crafter and blogger, Alicia, for passing along the info for the show!  She'll be selling hand made accessories at the even as well!)

Wear // Mara Hoffman Resort 2012

[Giving me the major WANTS.  And hell YES to bright, purple lipstick!]

See it all and more here.

Birthday Lilies

[When your place smells like a bouquet of lilies that you can literally hear blooming (I swear I could hear these babies open up), there's no reason not to be happy.]

(Psst, I'm obsessed with on Instagram > on_the_lookout)

Crave // FALCONWRIGHT

[Hey cute clutch, HEY.]

all images via falconwright.

The handmade accessory line, FALCONWRIGHT epitomizes everything I love about the whole creative and crafty movement that is booming right now: Fun, artistic collabs with friends; adorable, quality goods; little peeks at the handmade process; and faces to go along with the things you buy and love.  I'm a big fan of what these ladies do, both together and on their own (here and here).  Plus, they have me jonesing for a weekend trip to Toronto ASAP, a fine (close-ish) city that somehow never really got any blips on my radar previously.

I'm pumped that they've seen so much success and still turn out a fabulous collection of goodies that are literally flying off the internet.  And since I just got my first ever, official on-the-lookout business cards done, I better snatch up a cute, patterned card holder before everything is sold out!  Shop the newest additions to their store and check out the FALCONWRIGHT blog for some laughs and serious, screen printing know-how.

collection 005

[Cool stuff found on these here Internets.]

1// Best bang and bun combo ever. (While you're at it, check out the other photos from this Aussie wedding.  So damn dreamy.)
2// These stripped shoes.
3// A little, leather pouch in the perfect, rosebud hue.
4// DIY, washi tape, elk head. via joelledesign.
5// Hand-dyed, chevron necklace. via Simple Hands.
6// Ohh, this CLEVELAND weather.  Time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, eh?

(And so it goes, white, black, gold, aqua and pink are still my favorite colors.  Here's to consistency!)

Photograph: Jung Lee

Gorgeous and atmospheric photographs of Korean landscapes with ghostly overlaid text or neon signage nestled within, by Jung Lee.

When you look at the mountains and the trees and the landscapes before you, what else do you see?

swiped from Raneytown.

Rawr

I cried a little when I realized that this was a little girls swim suit and therefore would never fit over my grown up, lady parts. Dang.

Herman Miller Eames Painted Chairs

artist: Mark Giglio

artist: Andrew Holder

Even if you don't have the instinctual urge to draw on blank walls/furniture/anything, this video of 5 designers decorating the Herman Miller Eames chairs might push you to unleash your tagging "skills" upon the most common of objects.  I say, do it!

Above are my favorite of the custom painted Eames chairs, but you can see all 5 here and check out video snippets by the artists themselves.

onthelookout Spring 2012!

[It's finally here...]

Many of you may know that I've been working on my own, handmade jewelry line for the past six months... So, I wanted to finally (officially) introduce everyone to onthelookout jewelry!

I began creating my own line of quality, handmade accessories several months ago: abstract geometric patterns and vibrant symbols; Native American and African-inspired designs made with richly colored beadwork, gemstones, leather and brass; playful expressions that incorporate a contemporary, tribal and ethnic flair. I've always enjoyed making things and starting a creative business where I have full control has been insanely rewarding - and terrifying! I've put my whole heart into everything you see here (and a lot you don't want to see) and this process has truly helped me develop my passion for creativity and construction.

So, 'I'm making jewelry now...' But, how did I come up with the name onthelookout? Well, to me, onthelookout means always being open enough to see the beauty that lies within the everyday; it means welcoming possibilities even when they come disguised as seemingly insurmountable challenges. Launching an accessories line was something that I never thought I could actually accomplish and be proud of. But, I've found that when your eyes and your heart are open enough, you will see a universe that is willing to help you MAKE IT HAPPEN.  I named my company such that I am always reminded to stay onthelookout for the 'silent draw and gentle pull of what I really love to do, as it will not lead me astray.'

I certainly encourage you to do the same.  And I hope you enjoy the jewelry while you're at it!

Much thanks to EVERYONE for their help and guidance.  I am here today, beaming, proud and taking a leap because of your phenomenal support :)

-erica

Recently // Instagram

My life has looked like a lot of jewelry-making lately (spring shop update next Tuesday!)  Which is exhilarating and stressful and all-consuming.  That and a little bonding time with the cat and snacks replacing actual meals.

I'm all over Instagram like a bee is to honey.  Are you?  It's the perfect way to capture a moment and has me looking at simple things in a much sweeter light.  Pretty nice for a free, phone app, yeah?

otl Branding // Mood Board & Logo Design

I see a lot of graphic designers throwing up mood boards, like and this and this, to help with them with design projects and branding, so I thought I might just do one for the onthelookout as well! #fakeittilyoumakeit.

Coming up with a logo and overall feel for this brand is something that I've been wanting to take on for a while, but haven't necessarily thought I was ready to do.  There are just so many options out there!  Color schemes, fonts, packaging, mission statements, etc etc.  When you have complete creative freedom, it can be hard to narrow down just what you like, no?  Pinterest has been a great resource for helping me compile all of the visually inspiring stuff out there, so I used that to pull together this first mood board.  I gave myself 10 minutes to look through and select all of the pins that reminded me of my vision for onthelookout.  I think the time limit was helpful, lest I spend hours on something that is supposed to be pretty quick and organic.  I hope that studies like this will help me narrow down the goods and edits out the "unnecessaries."  Plus, I am dying to get a some business cards and a custom stamp made for packaging.  At the very least, it was fun to do!

Colors and shapes are pretty consistent here: Pink, blue-grey, black, and gold appear everywhere on my Pinterest boards and in the colors around my house.  Oh and I love me some triangles and geometric, deco-inspired shapes.  However, I'm still on the fence about the logo... I can't decide if I like the blocky text or hand-written script look.  Thoughts?

I'd love to see any mood boards that you've done!