Many companies these days are trying to refresh their look and trying to come up with new website designs, cleaner graphics and even new logos. Success is certain for one, but the other two, not so much.
Back in January, local sub chain Cousins Subs decided to “update” its slightly psychedelic logo for a cleaner version. Personally, I think the new logo lacks the oomph and style of the old one and is now just bo-ring! Yeah, its clean and nice, but the font is uninteresting and really has no personality. You can check out the article from the Journal Sentinel about the change, or just look below at the two versions and decide for yourself:
The second logo FAIL, was the recent attempt by the Gap to change their logo without really thinking through the customer reaction to the change or how this new look would affect the image of their classic logo. After suffering some harsh backlash via Twitter and Facebook, the retail giant withdrew the new logo and reverted back to the iconic original.
Finally, just out in the news last week on the Internet Retailer website, is FAO Schwarz the toy store, with their new logo attempt. Now here we have an elegantly designed, brand appropriate look. The new logo has a classic, timeless feel that really relates to their position as the toymaker of choice. I really love this design. It is not boring and blocky, but well thought out and beautiful.
I love fonts, type and typography. One of my favorite blogs to read, How About Orange, recently linked to a great site called “Typography for Lawyers”, for those of you interested in the nuances of typography this is a great little site that includes topics such as: The consequences of bad typography: a historic example, as well as basic, intermediate and advanced typography.
I also receive the e-newsletter from My Fonts called “Creative Characters” which features a different designer interview in each issue. It is so interesting to get inside the minds of the creative souls behind all these fabulous fonts. The interviews ask questions like what inspires them, what new projects are on the horizon, and also goes over some of the back-stories behind fonts they have created and how they began designing fonts in the first place. You can sign up for their newsletter, too, or visit the newsletter archives, or even buy the book with the first two years of interviews all in one spot!
I have just finished reading a really great book (lent to me by my son’s girlfriend!) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The thing of it is, no one ever told her family and they have never received any compensation for any of the millions of dollars made by the buying/selling of her cells all these years. Her family didn’t even find out her cells were still “alive” until 25 years after her death! Rebecca Skloot does an amazing job of describing scientific terms in plain English while also treating the Lacks family with much tenderness, love and understanding. These were/are real people, not just anonymous test subjects. It is a great read and a great thought provoker on the costs of science vs. the benefits we might obtain if it goes right. You can get your own copy at your local library or buy one on Amazon, like so:
Here are five of the best free fonts that I use all the time:
- Plastique from DaFont: Gives you that “punch label” feeling every time! Go ahead make some labels for your pages. This is a really fun font, just put a colored rectangle behind it and away you go! The sample page below features both this font and the next in it.
- Problem Secretary, also from DaFont: is a great text font for your pages. It comes in a normal (straighter) version or the “problem” version which is kind of a wavy baseline. Loooove this font. Also great for labels and tags. See above page sample to see it in action in the title and tag.
- Pea Karen’s Doodles from Fonts For Peas: This is a great hand-drawn doodly font from which I especially love the arrows, the lowercase “p” being my favorite. See how I used it in the picture below.
- The King & Queen also from DaFont: This is a great font for your girl pages or for fun invitations and formal lettering projects. It looks great with metallic layer styling applied, too, as you can see in my sample page below.
- Your Own Handwriting! turned into a font. This has to be one of the coolest sites for digital scrapbookers as you can add your own actual handwriting to your pages now. You have to download a template, fill it out and scan it back to them. You can create multiple fonts, though. Just think: printed, cursive, doodles, whatever! Here’s the sample of mine:
Are there any fonts you’d add to this list? Or what are your top five choices? Leave your comments below.
Came across this great project while out browsing today. Great for all you thrifters and party planners! From The Giver’s Log blog which is a treasure trove of gift-giving goodness! Click here for the treat tray DIY instructions.
Inspired by the coming of Spring and the Washington Post’s Peep diorama contest, I would like to feature a layout I did awhile back on the favorite springtime treat, as my family has a little bit of a different take on the situation! Enjoy!
Click the photo to visit our gallery for tips on the techniques used in this layout.
Not just for nurseries, these could come in handy most anywhere, and oh so stylish! Make some of these fabric-covered storage boxes from Sew4Home for every room in your home.
Check out this very cool project from ReadyMade Magazine to transform an ordinary incandescent light bulb into a groovy bud vase for your spring flora.
Our exclusively designed poodle applique pattern for your poodle skirts and/or other decor has been added to a new Hand-Picked list “Oodles of Poodles” on Bonanzle, by eyecatchingbeauty. Thanks so much for choosing our cute poodle for your beautiful list. Get your copy of the pattern here.
Poodle Applique Pattern
