The Orange Octopus: 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Apartment/Townhouse

My apologies for the delay on posting this week, its been a bit crazy with working far away a few days a week (approx 87-miles each way) YUCK. But without further delay, I wanted to post about apartments today. As I will start to look for a place to live soon and as I know many of my friends have already started the process of moving out or buying or just living in a new space. I lived in a wonderful apartment right after undergrad with a great friend. Our space was great, it was the perfect transition from home to apartment. Not too clean, but clean, not too grown-up but just grown-up enough. We had our own rolling bar, small kitchen and huge living area. I worked a lot during that first year, so the amount of enjoyment I got out of the place was limited to parties and weekends. Anyhow, I'm at a new place in a my life, ready for the "big girl" place with her man. I think the biggest challenge this will bring will probably be, our totally opposite ideas of what style is and what comfort is. (opposites attract, right?!) The below apartment/townhouse cracked me up because of the pink and white. (he's more of a black, grey, brown kinda guy). I like bright, exposed brick, yellow and light grey. HOpefully we'll find a middle ground in all that. HA! For the full post on this house and many other places, please visit: Apartment Therapy

More pics after the jump!

Three years in love!

I met my boyfriend three years ago, hopefully there will be many more years to come!

Picture courtesy of Oh so Beautiful Paper

The Barns Foundation

For those reading from the Philadelphia, tri-state area, there is a beautiful little gem hiding in our backyards. The Barns Foundation, "...houses one of the finest collections of nineteenth and twentieth-century French painting in the world. An extraordinary number of masterpieces by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse provide a depth of work by these artists unavailable elsewhere. Established as an educational institution the Barnes carries out its mission teaching classes in its galleries and Arboretum.*" Dr. Barnes collected the pieces of artwork and placed them in his home/gallery and then protected the works in his will, to never leave his home/gallery. Unfortunately the collection is being moved, against Dr. Barnes' will to a building next to the Rodin museum in the Art district of Center City. His collection at their original location is able to be viewed until the end of 2010. After my visit today, I have to say this is something I wish I had known about many years ago.

Just some of the originals available to view at The Barnes.

More images after the jump!

More Beer!

Since it seems I started off the day with an alcoholic post, might as well roll with it right?
Haven't seen these new bottle designs nor have I seen this new Sam Adams brew in any of the local distributors as of late...BUT they are still worth talking about!
I love the wood cut look of these elegant bottles! Totally out of the box for the East coast brewery. Makes you want to think out of the box for every project that comes across your desk. But we all know all of our clients can't be that outgoing and willing to think differently. (I think hell would freeze over first!) I should mention that Adams & Co worked on these beauties!

More after the jump

The Dark Lord

A fellow student that I studied with in Savannah did one of his projects on Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial stout, for the rest of the world that is not familiar with this outrageously dark beer, let me fill you in. This beer is made is very (extremely) small batches and is released one day out of the year. This day is called "Dark lord day". While anyone can attend this special day, only a select few can purchase the stout, with what the company calls a "Golden ticket". Bottles of this beer sell on e-bay for ridiculously high prices and the stuff it self has won a number of awards, worldwide. The Three Floyds website describes it as: "A demonic Russian Style Imperial Stout, brewed with Intelligensia coffee Mexican vanilla, and Indian sugar this beer defies description.."

The Dark Lord Beer, picture courtesy of Three Floyds

*More after the jump!*

Letterpress Deliciousness! + Typo

So with all this talk about Letterpress in the office the past few days, I had to post about it. Beautiful detailing, and some amazing registration makes all the difference with these pieces below. But there is just something so magical about the entire letterpress process that makes me just want to try it out and get my hands dirty. I think I see a retirement plan with this in the future. I could only hope that I could be a cute old lady owning a paper and letterpress stationary store somewhere in the heart of the city.

On a side note:
If you don't know me well, I can't spell for the life of me. I type fast and without any kind of accuracy. I've been beaten with a stick, publicly humiliated and whoever gives my eulogy will probably mention it. Its not on my high list of things to fix in my life. I live with it. I'll learn someday. So thank you to my old boss, who pointed out that I spelled Between wrong in my heading. It will be fixed, when I get back to the house.

These cute owls from Delicate Letterpress

More images after the jump!

where i'd like to be today!

Okay so I'm a sucker for anything Anthony Bourdain. And secondly, I only returned home from Savannah, Georgia about 4 months ago, and in my eyes, that is not enough time to adjust to the cold weather of the Northeast. Flurries, wind and the wind chill! YUCK! I don't mind snow, but just cold weather makes me miserable. So without much explanation, wherever Anthony is here, is where i'd like to be....

*more images after the jump*

Beautiful

Absolutely beautiful type from Veer called Burgues Script.

Makes me want to start creating my own fonts again. I could hang this on my wall as art!

Organized!

Bluelounge was introduced to me through a friend in Graduate school. I have to say, I should have bought these products then, since I probably was the messiest I've ever been in my life. Their products have been featured in The WallStreet Journal and Mac World. They are highly functional, easy to use and...kinda cute! You can purchase these items: HERE.

They just want to make you say POP!

**more photos after the jump!**

Illustration Inspiration!

Today, I'd like to share with you beautiful illustrations from a good friend a fellow blogger, Nicole Duquette. Her whimsical style is sure to bring a smile to your face! I just love her line work and choice of colors, if I ever get married, I'm for sure calling her to do some amazing invitations with me! Here is some of her spectacular work. Please visit her website: HERE and her blog: HERE