It’s that time of year again music lovers I have finally completed my Life Soundtrack entitled “The Year of Contessa”. I wish everyone all the happiness and love this upcoming year. It’s gonna be a good one I can feel it. Keep listening to music that makes you feel! <3 Contessa

Found this really neat makeup bag for $0.99 at the thift store. I’ll probably use it as a mini purse when i go out to keep credit cards, license, cash etc so i don’t have to lug a big heavy purse around!

This morning I had a little work session downtown at | cafe helios in Downtown Raleigh. Absolutely love this latte artwork. Had to share it with you lovely people! Happy Sunday Funday!

Ever wonder what to do with those graphic t-shirts you just can’t bear to part with, but can’t wear in public anymore for fear of ridicule (due to holes in armpits or it not-so-much fitting properly anymore). Well all you need is a cool picture frame, some creative arranging power and voilà!!!!

I decided to try a little project with my old business cards and give them a little personality…a facelift. Silver Sharpies = <3 for Rachelle

I decided to try my hand at making some jewelry. I made this necklace based off an Anthropologie Necklace Knock-Off tutorial I found. Let me know if you want me to make one for you. You pick the pattern and I’ll create something for you!

Leave your comments and let me know what you think!

(I have more images that i’ll post soon)

Design & Music Lovers,

This year has quickly come to an end. It went by so fast I can’t even believe it. I wanted to do a fun yet related post for the soon coming end of 2010 and beginning of a new journey in 2011.

Since I am, as most of you know, a music connoisseur and a lover of album artwork, I thought I would give you a treat and share with you my little yearly music project. Every year, since a friend of mine introduced it to me back in college (<3 you Lauren), I make a life soundtrack. It’s a compilation of music for the year, and to make it more interesting there are categories you have to fill. Also, being the design nerd I am I always title the soundtrack for “my movie” and come up with some quick album cover for it (i know i know, “good use of time, Rachelle,” but it makes me smile, so there!  ).

This year’s title is “Rosebud”. Below I have included the album cover, playlist (CATEGORY: ARTIST - SONG), and linked as many of the songs I could track down on youtube or elsewhere. (I’m excited to share this with you!) It’s an odd mix of music, but i’m an odd person so it works I could go on and on about why i love each song, but i’ll save that for another post, right now…enjoy, art & music lovers!!!

P.S. The Portishead “Only You” video is stunning, so if anything please watch that just for visual perfection! Also, please listen for the Star Wars reference in Digga Digga Doo….be still my heart!

Opening Credits: The Dead Milkmen – Punk Rock Girl
Waking Up: Rupa & the April Fishes – Maintenant
Average Day: Asylum Street Spankers – Digga Digga Doo
(Mills Brothers Cover)
First Date: Frightened Rabbit – The Wrestle
Falling in Love: Louis Armstrong – La Vie En Rose
(Édith Piaf Cover)
Sex Scene: Foo Fighters – All My Life or  Portishead – Only You
Fight Scene: Thrice – Firebreather
Breaking Up: Joe Purdy – Why You?
Getting Back Together: John Lennon – (Just Like) Starting Over
Secret Love: Acid House Kings – Are We Lovers or Are We Friends?
Life’s Okay: KC & the Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes
Mental Breakdown: Massive Attack – One Thought at a Time
Driving: Cee Lo Green – F**k You
Learning a Lesson: Led Zeppelin – The Rain Song
Deep Thought: Paolo Nutini – These Streets
Flashback: Propellerheads (feat. Shirley Bassey) – History Repeating
Partying: Timbaland & Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
Happy Dance: Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear it for the Boy
Regretting: Joshua Radin – Closer
Long Night Alone: Radiohead – 2 + 2 = 5
Death Scene: The Beatles – A Day in the Life
Closing Credits: Beruit – Elephant Gun

The most basic form of computer generated art: The Pixel. So I guess a blog post about pixel inspired design is warranted.

This is an amazing one to start with. Rubikcubism! Imagine the planning that goes into creating these pieces of art with Rubik’s Cubes!!!!! Enough said by me about this because this is just wonderful work.

British shoe company Gola Classics teamed up with German design firm eBoy to create the above pixel inspired designs. The shoe designs and anime inspired handbags exibit large colorful range for those of you eccentric enough to sport the style. This line of apparel will be coming very soon!

Now let’s move on to a little sweet treat: Pixel Chocolate.

Designed by Tithi Kutchamuch, My Sweets is a study of the question, “Can design make people buy food that offers LESS?” They go on to talk about how we buy the “bargain” foods, the bigger candy bars, etc, because it’s ONLY a few cents more than the smaller one, when we really only need the smaller size. Check out their case study and solution to this with Pixel Chocolate. It’s really amazing. This is also featured in Lovely Package and a unique package design.

A neat gadget that combines geekery, crafts and pure awesome! You can punch out the pixels in each Pixel Coaster to make unique designs. (Check out the Space Invaders scene…definitely geeked out over that one!) Right now, Pixel Coasters are only available from Taiwanese design retailer 25togo, but hopefully we’ll get cool stuff like this available soon!!!

MORE PIXEL DESIGNS:
Cool Hyperlink Icons Pixel Art Designs
Pixel Artwork Using Paint Chips
PixelJam Games

I’m going to be posting a new DIY project in conjunction with this based on pixel artwork creation. STAY TUNED!!!

So I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated, but I have FINALLY had a surge of inspiration lately. Sorry, I’ll do better, promise!

I have been trying to pry myself away from the computer which, since it’s 100% of my job, is sometimes extremely hard to do. My roommate has been a huge inspiration in getting me to want to start creating art with my hands again instead of solely relying on computers. The opening of Deja Vu: Treasures Revisted (Clayton, NC) was just the push I needed to start having people see paint splotched hands again while i’m out shopping or my attempts to scrub stains out of shirts I probably should have thought to change before I dove into creation (another good shirt ruined in pursuit of art…i’m antsy, I can’t help it).

So, art lovers, it’s time for a new series of DIY and visual stimulation. I’m calling this series SRL Goes DIY. It’s going to be all my new photographs, paintings, home decor, apparel, etc…most of which will be handmade - painting, construction, etc etc. by little ‘ol me. I’m going to feature some of the work done by friends as well so if you want to be included in any of the posts for things you are doing in the area of DIY, let me know!

The first of many installments includes a direct inspiration from my roommate, Tina. I’ve always loved the really unique looking frame (squares, circles, ornate, and plain), and i need to finally get my pictures hung in my room (shhhh i know i know). A little hunting, a little manual labor and these were created!

I’ll have more pictures when these are hung (and i’m also going to start doing before and after’s too!) Stay tuned all, there will be LOTS more to come!!!!!

Here’s the promo poster for the CD Release Show for The Jason Adamo Band’s new album “Transistor”. Show is at the Berkley Cafe in Raleigh, NC; June 26th, 2010. Come out and be a part of history since these guys are going to do great things with the talent they were given!