Cyber obsession - Acorda Monstro

Utterly obsessed and delighted by the characters/illustrations I found on the Portuguese blog Acorda Monstro (translation: Wake up, Monster!)  Just perfection.  Seriously - I have never seen something that made me want to be a little old man more than these. . . maybe that's my next style.

Au Revoir

Domestic Acrobats

The Dallas Flea

Hope to see you all at The Dallas Flea on Sept 11!  Come visit me as we relaunch Momo fandango (by Smmidge) at the Flea.  Very exciting!  We'll have some uber unique stuff for your fave cool kiddo - and we are excited to be in the mix with some of the best shops and designers in Big D!
OH!  And stay tuned for more info on the Smmidge mobile studio/shop coming in Spring 2011!!  

For more info go here.

Yay for White Rock Paddle Co

If you, like me, enjoy time at White Rock but have never been out on the lake - White Rock Paddle Co is worth a visit.  Amy, the owner, is adorable and will set you up with a canoe or kayak, and before you know you are out rowing on the lake like an old pro . . .

or like beginners with a scared, crying child. . . throwing sippy cups in the water. . . ah, well.  We gave it shot, and after littering in the beautiful waters, we called it day.  But we'll be back with a well-rested child who will love to canoe, dang-it.  

Find out more about WRPC here. 

And here is what you might look like as a family in (much needed) life-vests.

Life choices

I spent some time at Whiterock Lake recently, contemplating life. . . that's right.  I'm in an ongoing existential crisis.  This is me considering life:

 While there, I realized that this is the car I want to be driving when Ben and I are old and going to the grocery store at 10 in the morning on a Saturday in our lightweight cotton woven pants, gray hair and hats.  Much like the couple I saw driving it outside of Kroger.  Groovin' through their lives in the Wagoneer.

  And with my current obsession with men's fashion - this was my recent Sartorialist moment that (again, while at the lake) I realized I want to have more of.  I was in Portland working at the Dew Tour, and saw this very chic, easy-cool guy.  I stopped him and asked to take his picture to show his style to my husband (and blog community).  He said yes and struck this pose.  Turns out he lives in Portland and manages all of Nike's global endorsements.  Yep.  Big-wig Nike exec.  Well. . . he's got style while doing it.  But - in another moment of clarity - I don't want to be a Nike exec.

Josh Rouse

One of my all-time favorite songs off a great album.  Get more info and more music by Josh Rouse here

Citizen Architect 8/23

I've been anxiously awaiting the premiere of Citizen Architect; Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio.  Tune in to your local PBS station on Monday August 23rd and 9pm CT for the premiere.

My architect brother, Clay, told me about this movie months ago and always keeps me posted on the most interesting and important happenings in the architecture and design world. . . Clay is an Ivy League educated Architect and Professor and quite talented.  Freaky talented, in fact.  You can read an article he wrote about his philosophy and teaching style on GOOD  It's one of our dreams to have a home designed by Clay. . . oh, one of these days!  Something meaningful - not fancy.  Useful and beautiful.  Available and affordable.  Like the philosophy of Rural Studio.  One of these days. . .  and when Clay and his wife (my dear friend and sister-in-law) Amy have some time - they just welcomed the newest addition to our family - sweet baby Gaines - and of course my 2 1/2 yr old niece and muse, Miss Lola - and they are suuuuuper swamped as you can imagine!  In the meantime, check out Citizen Architect and be inspired to do what you do and do it with meaning.

Alone and beyond - inspiration

I came across this amazing video and it made me shudder with excitement, anxiety, hope jealousy, love, & wonder.  It is a testament to the value and power of poetry.  Poetry is very close to my heart because my grandmother, whom I lovingly called Baba, taught me to read and interpret it.  She was a poet, Melba West Foy.  She moved me with her rhythmic words, just as this video, poem, interpretation does today.  Watch it.  Love it.  Let it move you to do what you do. . . alone or not.




Started production on some webisodes that will chronicle the move of a dear friend of mine, and his experience transitioning to a new home, with a designer, contractors, his vision etc. It's going to be so great - more to come! Inspiration abounds!

1930s-40s inspiration

Today I saw a link come through my Twitter account from the genius hotelier Liz Lambert of Hotel San Jose fame and she directed me to the Denver Post photo blog posting "Captured: America in Color, 1939-1943".  Their words frame it best:


These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.

I find the images haunting, hopeful, eerily real. . . because they are in color, and because of the reproduction from film and slides (I assume) makes them seem almost like styled movie stills.  Like some genius art director is pulling the expression from the children and families of one of the most trying times in our national history.


I'm so inspired by the simplicity of the clothing patterns and materials, as well.  By the patterns, the graphic signage and sweet and quite colorful fabrics.  The ladies in dresses, the men in coats or suspenders.  I know of one children's designer, Christine Visneau, that seems to draw on this time in history.  Check out her amazing stuff at Baby Bean Vintage Daywear.  


I look at pictures of my grandparents and great-grandparents so often. . .looking for a whisper from them, some understanding of their life and time - they were in rural America during the same period.  These express a national connection, the collective experience of the last years of the depression.  And it, again, is at once sad, hopeful, beautiful, melancholy. . . inspiring. . . provocative.  I hope they inspire your ideas and creativity, rooted in history, in the same way they are me. 

Ahhhh, Portland 2010

I just returned from my second annual trip to Portland, OR.  As a part of my day job as a brand marketer, I follow one of our sponsorships out there to manage what we activate for the consumer onsite. . . enough of the corp lingo; Portland is super cool.  And that makes all the difference.  Last year I was able to have Ben and Doss tag along, and we had a magical time exploring the city.  Since I was so busy, and without my guys this time, I wanted to just revisit - and share with you - some of my favorite places there.  Most of my faves are vintage shops in the ultra groovy Hawthorne District.  You can find out more about them, and vintage all over Portland by visiting Vintage Portland.

Lizard Lounge on Hawthorne was truly my favorite.  Amazing pieces, still reasonably priced, and the staff was so nice!  Look at how cute it is. . .

Vintage Pink is just down the street from Lizard Lounge and is another must see.  I can't pass by a pink building without stopping in, I don't know about you?!?

Finally - on my last day, I noticed that one of our most magical experiences in Portland was back again - it isn't something that is only available in Portland, but will always feel that way to me because it is the only place where I have been to, or seen the New Belgium Tour de Fat.  The Tour de Fat reminds you that driving is bad!  To follow your folly and be yourself.  And above all, beer is better for bike riders!  Check it out when it comes a little closer to home - Austin TX - in Oct (see schedule here)

Profiles of local creatives and special stops in and around Big D, and Texas coming soon!  In the meantime, here's to loverly Portland!  Hope to see you next year!

Cyber-obsessed with Bows and Arrows

Currently, I'm cyber obsessing over the dazzling duo - Bows and Arrows, a.k.a.  Alicia Rico (Bows) and Adam Rico (Arrows).  They have a super wonderful blog (check it out here) which is on my daily read list - and apparently a groovy little shop with classes and fabulous flora.  Their edgy but sweet image is just right in my comfort zone.

Roll down the windows and scream

Band of Horses is Ben's favorite music right now.  He has a nose for new, amazing bands.  Usually I end up loving what he loves.  Usually.  This is one of those instances.  And I LOVE this song; Laredo.  It's a roll-down-your-windows-and-scream kind of song.  Rock-your-face-off and start anew kind of song.  And this video, well, it is perfecto in my book.  Visually it just blows my mind - and somehow totally evokes all that sort of hopeful melancholy that is just like life. . . hope you enjoy - and check out more of Band of Horses here.

US HWY 81

HWY 81

We went to the Colpitt family reunion over the weekend in Ben's hometown.  We took a different route this time, up HWY 81 through Bowie, TX; Duncan, OK; Anadarko, OK; Chickasha, OK and on into Weatherford, OK - our destination.  It was truly a beautiful drive and we think we will continue to use this route vs the interstates we usually take. . . .here are some lovely moments along US HWY 81.

Anadarko, OK

The Redskin Theatre, in Anadarko - known as "Indian City USA"

Redrock Canyon

Group campground inside Redrock Canyon State Park

Prairie sculpture

Welcome Gaines Foy Odom - my newest nephew - born on Aug 4th in Austin TX.  Here's to all the roadtrips in our future sweet Gaines!

Two of my Fave Things

Doss and Guthrie riding together in the backseat.

Wrist Corsages worn at my birthday dinner (in May).

August Smmidge-sation: Pink Lemonade Company

Smmidge-sation will be a profile series of people I know (or get to know) who are doing super interesting, creative (and othewise) projects that are allowing them to Do What They Do - a Smmidge mantra.  First up just happens to be an old classmate of mine - Kelli Mitchell - hope you enjoy!

As many of you know, I grew up in a really small town outside of Abilene TX, called Baird.  I'm really proud of my heritage there.  I had a great life growing up, and always fancy myself as really lucky to know the people I know because of my life in Baird.  One of my classmates for, well, really my entire life (preschool - 12 grade give or take) was Kelli Dean. .. Kelli Mitchell now. . .  I have really fond memories of birthday parties, sleepovers and slip-n-slides at her rock house on the corner lot, with carport and screen door - oh!  And the coolest kitchen cabinets.  Yep - when you grow up in a small town you grow up using your imagination!  And Kelli certainly is drawing on her vivid imagination these days.  Her web/graphic design business, Pink Lemonade Company and photo editing business Pink Lemonade Photo caught my eye when I started noticing all the buzz on facebook surrounding some of her cheeky, funky, sweet, and hilarious photo edits.  People were going crazy over her work and I had to know more!  Here is our Q & A:
Smmidge: Place of Birth?  PLP:Jacksonville, Texas.  (I Moved to Baird when I was two years old). 
Smmidge: Current City and Occupation? PLP:Abilene, Texas. Day job: Ringmaster of the three ring circus that is my household.

Smmidge: Creative project/business name and service/product offered.
PLP: Pink Lemonade Company is the “official name”. I have two sites. My first site is www.pinklemonadecompany.com which houses my web design and other graphic design services. (more to come!)

My other site is www.pinklemonadephoto.com  Photo editing - kids, families, loved ones. And [now] I have had requests to do other projects as well, such as gig posters and blog headers.  I take photographs and give them a hyped up edit.  It is interesting that some of the pictures you think are trash shots end up being really cool. I am able to extract unwanted elements and add funky little bits to create a completely new photograph.  And [now] I have had requests to do other projects as well, such as gig posters and blog headers.

The photo editing has taken a new spin. I still do edits for individuals but have also started working with a photographer and dear friend, Christa McClellan, of Moonshine Photography. We share a lot of passion about this and have some really cool ideas in store.   

Smmidge: How did you start Pink Lemonade Photo and why?
PLP: The photo editing (and Pink Lemonade Photo Project on facebook) was actually a random middle of the night thing. I [updated] my [FB] status late one night, in the midst of a little bit of boredom and insomnia, and said something like “I’m bored. Send me your pictures and I will edit them.” I had about 10 photos sent to me in about 5 minutes. I got those edited, sent back to their owners, and it was crazy. People really seemed to respond well to it. I started getting requests to do more pictures and it just went from there. 

Before

After

Lots more after the jump!

Utility Cuteness

I love to make a statement as much as the next girl - but there is something about a simple approach, a classic palette, a simple pattern, a utilitarian material - thus the genius of Utility Canvas.  They have such amazing totes, storage pieces and fashion.  I especially love the outerwear.  Now this doesn't mean I would not add an over-the-top statement necklace or earring with my canvas coat and tote bag. . . perhaps like this (from guess where?): 

It's all about balance right?  Do what you do!  

Loving Dawes

My current favorite band is Dawes.  This is a video of an amazing song - I heart the super stylized story telling.  The ending filled with hope. . . The bushy, crazy hair of the band member.  I highly recommend their album North Hills and am rocking out to it daily.  It keeps me thinking, makes me want to at once dance and cry.  Fabulous feelings to engage.