Focus on...Ello There!

I came across Ello There last week while browsing wedding invitations on etsy. No, I do not currently have a ring on my left ring finger, I just like to plan ahead! And look at lovely invitations. Crisp, graphic design will always be in style and I think Ello There hits that mark quite nicely. They also use motifs that tap into my love of vintage, while maintaining the clean look I (would) want. I contacted them about doing an interview and Jonathan (half of the talented duo) got back to me with these answers!

Tell me some basic info about yourselves.

We have been married for two years and Maddy just graduated with a BFA in photography, and I am about to graduate with a BFA in graphic design. We work together all the time on projects so this etsy shop is a collaborative effort on both our parts. We currently reside in Rexburg, Idaho where we are going to school at BYU-Idaho but plan on moving to Seattle in April, we'll see where life takes us from there!

{ferris wheel invitation}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

It always starts with my sketchbook, and then I develop the ones I like into invitations. I love using real textures, I make them from block prints, and scan them in to use in my designs. Then I finish everything up in Adobe Illustrator.

{vintage calendar save the date}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

We made a couple of etsy shops that didn't really take off before deciding to do wedding invitations. We started it in the fall of 2008; I wasn't happy with my job at the time, and I thought it would be good to start selling invitations on etsy. I love the idea behind etsy, that anyone can start making money off of their creativity. I wanted to create invitations that were simple and non-traditional and etsy was the right place to do it.

{two birds, one tree invitation}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love Paul Rand and Charlie Harper, I get a lot of inspiration from the mid-century modern designers, and my invitations tend to have a vintage, simplistic feel to them because of this. I also love a good design blog, like Grain Edit.

{chalkboard wedding invitation - my fave}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

We have developed a little addiction to vinyl. We both love Velvet Underground, but we have our personal tastes too. I love listening to Drew Danburry, a local artist from Utah. Maddy loves Of Montreal, the Beatles, and lately has been really digging the compilation album put out by Sparklehorse and Danger Mouse, Dark Night of the Soul.

{save the date couple}

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I would be a bear, and Maddy would be a bird.

{wedding on the beach invitation}

What's your favorite piece of your own work?

We both agree on this one, our invite with the bus and hearts called Love Bus. We would probably use it for own invitation if we could travel back in time.

{book love save the date}

What are your favorite blogs right now?
Cup of Jo, Grain Edit, Friends of Type, Sweet Juniper, and Tom and Lorenzo.

{two little owls invitation}

You can find Jonathan and Maddy at any of the below links:

Ello There Etsy Shop

Ello There Blog

Seth Lucas Design

Maddy Lucas Photography

*Thanks for the interview, Jonathan and Maddy! I wish you continued success!*

love... Plan 59 + What Prints Should I Buy?

Plan 59 is a website that sells commercial art from the 1950's. They offer large prints for sale, most for $20-40. The prints are handmade in Virginia from high-resolution master files and printed on imported French watercolor paper with a sumptuous herringbone texture. I have spent most of this morning on this site and my cart is quite full! I may have to, erm, rethink some of these purchases. But they're all so lovely! These are the ones that made it into my cart - which ones should I keep?

{american brake shoe #2}

{merry xmas! - wouldn't it be fun to recreate this for your xmas cards?}

{jersey meadows - LOVE these colors}

{The Benders}

{kool-aid - my fave!}

{design no. 7601}

{soda bottles - another fave!}

{oldsmobile dynamic}

{heinz soups}

{ford family of fine cars}

{straight up - if i had a bebe, i would put this in his/her room}

{be happy, be gay}

{interstate 5, los angeles}

{reading the paper - i love that it's a woman!}

{mercury wagons}

{anytown, usa}

I don't know if I can bear to part with any of these, but right now I'm at over $300. Which is not happening. So... help me?

Always Play Amongst Friends

Friends of Type, a super awesome graphic design and typography blog, is offering these four letterpress prints, which, when put together, read Always Play Amongst Friends. These 8" x 10" prints are numbered and signed and the whole set is only $40!

love... Fun Tights!

How freaking awesome are these?

and these?

These give me the creeps a bit, but they'd be super for Halloween.

These might be my favorites.

These are all from Les Queues de Sardines, which I found through the lovely Little T Jane.

Focus On... Jabba's Design Hut and a Giveaway!!

{{{GIVEAWAY  CLOSED}}}

I came across Jabba's Design Hut while searching etsy for the undiscovered and the recently pounced upon. I LOVE those sections for finding new and awesome shops! So, I've had myself a lovely little correspondence with Jen, who is a seriously lovely person and a really talented crafter! Read her interview below!

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I'm a nerdy, crafty Architectural Technologist who draws for a living, then comes home to sew. We've just moved from Vancouver, BC over to the island to live a much quieter life in Victoria, BC.

{exotic bloom - my fave!}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?
I use quilting fabric almost exclusively. Once in awhile I'll throw something into the mix like linen but there is such an exciting variety of patterns and colours in the quilting fabric that I can barely control myself.

{yellow martini}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

My best friend Robin (http://www.rawbeanlootbag.etsy.com/) was starting up her own Etsy shop and convinced me I should do the same. Once I found the pattern for the Buttercup Bag it was a done deal.

{chocolate paisley}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration soley from the fabrics. I have some favouites, but it's always fun to browse the shops and see what's new and what I can come up with next.

{mermaid's tail}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

Some of my favourite music to craft by is Tom Waits, Faded Paper Figures, Plastic Operator, New Young Pony Club...etc. But what I love the most is to sew with old re-runs of Columbo in the background. Yeah....I know....

{orange seahorses}

If you were an animal, what would you be?

A penguin, no question.

{pink kelp}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

It's usually the latest piece I make for myself, so it's always changing. Right now it's a Buttercup Bag with a brown and orange Heather Ross 'kelp' pattern on the outside, and of course - mermaids on the inside. So cute.

{blue lagoon}

What are your favorite blogs right now?

Even Pretty Girls Need to Read
Dog Named Banjo
Zona Pellucida (a personal friend in Victoria)

Everybody Likes Sandwiches

You can find Jen both of the following links:

Etsy Shop

Blog

Jen has so graciously offered one of her buttercap bags for a giveaway! In fact, she made it just for you guys!

All you have to do is go to Jabba's Design Hut, choose your favorite item and leave a comment telling me what it is!

Once you've completed the above entry, you can also enter in any of the following ways (and please leave a comment for each one):

1. Become a follower of Kate & Oli (click here). If you already are, just let me know!

2. Become a follower of Jen's blog (click here).

3. RT the following: 

@ichbinseins is hosting a giveaway from Jabbasdesignhut! Win a buttercup bag! http://tinyurl.com/yfsfhnu 

Please leave me a link or your username or follow me on twitter, so I can verify!

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

*Fine print: Giveaway ends 11:59 pacific standard time Wednesday, February 3, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on the morning of Thursday, February 4, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Jabba's Design Hut will ship anywhere in the world!*

Stronger, Better, Healthier, Happier Lifestyle Update

I am going to Florida. Yes, Florida. Land of hurricanes, crocodiles, women rollerskating in bikinis, and lovely beaches. Well, at least I'm already used to the last two. OH, it's also the land of Burn Notice and CSI: Miami, two of the best shows ever!

My ex-boss/long-distance friend/new-mom/soon-to-be-married/lovely Toni is getting married on the beach in Florida (where she now lives) and I am going to be there. :)

{Toni and her son Charlie in September 2009, when he was 3 1/2 months old.}

When I decided this about a week ago, I was just beginning my new lifestyle changes, and the thought of a vacation to Florida gave me extra motivation. Which is funny if you think about the fact that I live in Southern California, which is where other people go on vacation and get all motivated for...but, I'm immune to Los Angeles. And.... I want to have the best time possible, which isn't just about looking good, it's about feeling strong and healthy and confident. And maybe water-skiing. :)

SO... it has begun. I have lost 5 lbs since last week! And I can do 20 more push-ups than I could last week! And, my jeans are looser! As the inventory scanners at Pottery Barn Kids used to say, "Hoo-rah!"

I am happy and excited... and cautious. People get comfortable quickly. Comfort breeds laziness and permissiveness. It's just like being in a new relationship; you try really hard in the beginning, you always wear makeup and shave your legs, but 6 months in, you're going out to dinner in sweatpants.

Today, I will celebrate this small victory by purchasing my tickets to Pensacola. And going to the gym! :)

Happy Birthday, Jonathan!

It is my best friend/roommate/landlord/Jonathan's birthday!

Happy 26th Birthday, Jonathan!

Focus on... Sadly Harmless

Sally Harless is an artist living in working in Bloomington, Indiana. She earned a BFA in printmaking from IU in 2007, and has since been showing her work in various galleries and art fairs. A lover of all things bears, beards, and sea creatures, her work is reminiscent of children's book illustrations, and her drawings often depict the struggles of adulthood. See the interview below!

{whale song linocut print}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?
I mostly use ink and watercolor to do my drawings. I just really love the way that it looks.

{knitting narwhals print}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

In the beginning, it was because I was a poor art student, and also because I couldn't see a reason to keep every single thing I made. And now it's the same, except that I'm a poor artist and this is my actual job!

{the sunken piano giclee print}

Where do you get your inspiration?

Most of my work is autobiographical, so I use the things in my life to create a drawing. I also love to watch nature shows and learn about the habits of animals, so often I will incorporate things I've learned about animals into the work.

{closest to the sky giclee print}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

I actually like to listen to the TV while I'm working, as it helps the time pass.

{elefarmers giclee print}

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I think I would probably be a sloth. I am very slow and approach most things with fear and caution.

{our own language giclee print}

What's your favorite piece of your own work?

It's hard to choose one, but I did a paper sculpture-type piece for my thesis show. It's called "The Aftermath" and can be viewed here.

{pink whale gocco print}

What are your favorite blogs right now?

I love Roadside Projects.

{on the edge giclee print}

Sally has also turned some of her ink and watercolor illustrations into pendants. I like this idea because if I find art I like, I want to show it off! And instead of inviting everyone over to see my messy house, I can use it as an accesssory.

{boxing panda, walruses on iceship, squid, jackalope, nighttime narwhals, gardening octopus}

You can find Sally at any of the following links:

Website

Blog

Etsy Shop

Facebook

Myspace

Flickr

Thanks for your interview, Sally!

Good luck with your continued success! :)