you know

... when it's real.

How good it feels.

{source unknown}

sound advice

Carry these words.

{alittlesoulsearching}

enough said

Change.

{pinned positivity}

bring it in

Day 18 of the new year and this is my first post. What's been keeping me? Well, as the year ended last year a curve-ball caught and a breathe of fresh air has seen some serious behind-the-scenes work take place.

So without rambling, I have waited til now to blog. To share a little quote to carry through your day, week, year, rest of your life. Sometimes you don't know whether it's good luck or bad luck, but what you do in the interim without giving up surely counts; and let's the Universe know you're ready for the next big thing.

Make your habit a good one.

Happy New Year!

positivity

Keep it cool. Keep it tight.

{heart starter}

hues of blue

{sigh heart}

i want

... to experiment more with hand drawn type, chalkboard paint, and ride bicycles in the rain.

Ideas are a-brimming.

{source unknown... but isn't it lovely?}

persistence

... is the key, and perhaps the only thing that will pay off in the end. I found the below poster inspiring and reaffirming to say the least.

My lovely cousin sent this to me, and I hope it sparks rejuvenation and creativity in you too.

{source unknown}

Keep pushin' on.

get out there!

A snippet of inspiration and motivation.

{found via kaelah b}

well,

... morning was quite some time ago. But it's coffee time again.

Draining that cup.

Soy latte anyone?

{typographic found somewhere on a www.creative hunt}

glasgow to inverell

From Glasgow 1926, to Inverell 1992, the following crests represent the Newby family. (Only one side of my gorgeous family)

Using maps, typography, handwriting and inherent symbolism each crest has a story to tell.

The Birth of a Patriarch
- represents the birth of my Grandfather in Glasgow, 1926.

Patriarch & Matriarch
- represents the marriage of my grandparents in Wolsingham,
Durham County, England in 1947.

JAN the Second
- represents the birth of my father,
who holds the same initials as his father (a short lived tradition),
in Wolsingham, England 1954. 

Angelina Lauro
- represents the immigration of six Newby's from Southampton,
England to Perth Australia on the MV Angelina Lauro, in 1969.

John & Julianne
- represents the marriage of my parents in Armidale,
New South Wales, Australia, in 1982.

Inverell
- represents the last year both my grandparents were
with us other five Newby's residing in Inverell.

Potential for many more.

Any questions, feedback - hit me here.

sneak peek

Here's a sneak preview of a typographic/mapping piece I'm currently working on...

A little puzzling? This one is going to represent the birth of my grandfather 'Newby' in Glasgow Scotland, 1926 - the patriarch of our family and family name.

More to come and the full concept to share!

cartophilia

In researching a current uni assignment, I have come across some amazing mixed media pieces by Matthew Cusick. Being a cartographer and designer, you can see why I have found resonance and simply admire these works.

Red & Blue, c.2010 

Charlie's Angels, c. 2009 

Geronimo (Detail), c. 2007 

Bonnie, c.2004 

Transamerican, c.2004 

Many Rivers, c. 2009

Kara's Wave, c. 2009 

Fiona's Wave, c. 2006

Colony, c. 2009

Ya dig?

I'm a portraiture enthusiast, but the waves here are my favourite. Must be the Piscean in me.


{matthew cusick}

buttermilk, buttermilk

Whilst I sit here in my arctic office, I daydream of warm, buttermilk pancakes and their heady aroma; I long to finish my current read I Have A Bed Made Of Buttermilk Pancakes... and I ponder this gorgeous font by Jessica Hische, which is aptly named 'Buttermilk'.

It's a buttermilk kind of day.

Oh, I'm so weird.

And wonderful.

friendly fire

I plan to accomplish great things this year.

Uni resumes for me, this Thursday.

Watch this space.

{poster found here}

one of those days

It's one of those days. Nothing in particular is special - but you're here, where ever you are, and it only takes something as simple as a sweet cup of tea so make you sigh a little softer. Smile a little easier.

It's been raining on and off, and unlike any other day - it doesn't really bother you (even though you have a spray tan appointment this evening).

You come across whimsical typographic artworks like the one below here, and are thankful for all the creative souls you've encountered, personally or virtually.

That's what today is like.

As I sit here at my work desk, listening to a myriad of my favourite artists (inparticular k.d. lang's rendition of 'Halleljuah' as I blog this), working on a map for the Oxford University Press' Atlas of Malawi, I am sailing along. A complaint would be out of sorts on an afternoon such as this.

What's so good about it? Nothing in particular. But then nothing is bad either.

I finished my fourth book for the year, Coming Up For Air by George Orwell, over lunch and am silently planning an evening that satisfies my mind just so. The company of my sister, delicious dinner, a glass of wine or two and a movie I dare say are on the cards. Saving one's pennies as the Big Day Out festival we are to attend on Sunday has surely been seen on the not so distant horizon.

It's funny - feelings like this I mean. They're wonderful, for no particular pin-point reason and you wouldn't change it for a thing.

Happy Friday.

spanish for skin

Pondering, sketching and tweeting about my pending tattoo and where to find desirable scriptive fonts, and what should I stumble across? A lovely typeface, designed by Ale Paul.I really do enjoy being 'Served' once in a while.

 

It goes by the name of Piel (which is Spanish for 'skin') Script.

Below you can see just some of the versatile applications and example practices of this font.

Oh. The cogs are turning.

You can also read about the Piel Script story here.

You like?