Blog Love & Other Courses of Note

About two months ago, I decided to invest in Elsie's blog love e-course and gain insight from her successful experiences as a creative blogger. I spent time taking the full course, writing out notes, and reshaping her challenges and suggestions to fit my blog.

At the time, I was really trying to "rev-up" my little baby MaieDae blog and work on developing a game plan, goals, and consistent growth. Speaking from personal experience, this tool was definitely one of the things that really motivated and inspired me to keep up with blogging and really make a place that I feel "at-home". If you are any type of beginner blogger, creative or not, and are looking for some of the how-to's of blogging, I definitly recommend taking this course. Lots of fun, super helpful, and insightful!

A couple other courses of note (I have not taken these yet, but I am eying them real hard!) :

For a crafty course - Modern Patchwork by Rachel Dendow of Smile & Wave

I am really excited about indie business 3.0! I have heard a lot of great feedback from LA's previous business courses and I am always up for some good ol' business development!

Got any good e-courses you are taking? Or suggestions?? Please share!

I Love My JoTote!

For Christmas, my husband and family got together and bought me a Nikon camera. I have only had it nearly a month and I have used it every single day. I absolutely love it! I wanted to make sure I had a good place to keep it safe when I go out, so I did some research and found an amazing shop called, JoTotes that sells camera bags//purses.

I always get a little nervous making a big purchase online, but I went with it and was so excited to receive my package only a couple of days later. The purse was even more gorgeous in person. It is very sturdy and I love the option of having an over the shoulder long strap or short strap.

Here is a peek at my little beauty:

Ok so, sturdy? check. Gorgeous color? check! Different strap options? check!! But that is not even my favorite part. Each purse comes with four padded dividers that you can customize and move around in your bag to make everything fit perfectly and safely. Currently, I carry around two cameras, my large Moleskine, wallet, glasses case, lip-wear, pens etc. and it all fits perfectly without being too heavy at all. It is also completely organized so my husband does not give me a look of horror when I ask for something out of my bag! 

Typography: 5 Favorite Fonts!

I am in love with fonts. ♥♥♥ I have been collecting and hunting down good fonts since college. Being in the graphic design business has taught me a lot about the use of a good font and how powerful it can be in design. I am actually planning to design a couple of fonts of my own this year and I am super excited! (See my 22 before 2012 list.) Here are five delicious fonts that you can download for free! Enjoy!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

If you know of a great font resource site or have a favorite font of your own, feel free to comment & share!

A New Year's Resolution Part 3: Accomplishing Goals in 2011

The New Year is almost a week in and I am already in awe. 2010 was amazing and 2011 certainly has a lot to live up to, but I am optimistic about the things that are going to happen and all of the exciting changes! It can be daunting to keep your fresh goals and perspectives for the New Year active in your day-to-day life. The secret is to keep yourself motivated and excited about achieving your dreams. I am certainly no professional, but I wanted to share some tips that I have found extremely helpful in accomplishing goals & keeping motivated. ♥♥♥♥

Quiet World Creative

1. Go on a Date with Yourself: Set up a date for yourself at a favorite coffee shop or cozy corner to really spend time reflecting and getting excited about the things you would like to accomplish. Bring a favorite journal and pen to begin sketching out a list and your thoughts. See my blog post about journaling & art journaling here for more ideas!

2. Keep Your Goals an Exciting Custom for You: Your goals can be ANYTHING, so really take the time to figure out the unique things you would like to accomplish. Do not feel like you need to add things to your list that everyone else adds. What excites you? What are you passionate about? Choosing things that light a fire in you will be a HUGE motivator.

3. Share: Once you begin to refine your list, share it with a couple of people that are close to you to help you decide if your goals are attainable or if you need help coming up with just a few more! Another benefit of sharing your goals is that it creates a type of accountability between yourself and what you have set out to accomplish.

4. Keep Your List Visible: Once you have completed your list, take time to put it somewhere that you will see it often and where it will serve as an inspiration to you daily. I usually keep all of my lists and ideas in my Moleskine journal and try to review my lists a couple of times a week. You could also make your list into artwork and put it up in your room or bathroom!

5. Schedule Your Goals: I usually like to take time each month to make lists of the things I would like to accomplish. I try and view each month as a "fresh start" so I can get motivated to accomplish new things. Along with your monthly to-do's, be sure to look over your list and begin breaking down your goals and scheduling them in for the month. Scheduling things can often make it a TON easier to accomplish something rather than just dreaming it up and setting it on a shelf.

6. Reward Yourself: Reward yourself along the way as you begin accomplishing your goals! Find people you can celebrate with and who are running after the same things you are in order to revel in the accomplishment. Maybe you reward yourself with a cute little purchase on Etsy if you have accomplished a set amount of goals. Get creative and set up a system that works for you!

7. Mind Over Matter: Last, but not certainly not least! Achieving your goals is about your mental state and self-motivation. Make your list attainable, exciting, and challenging. It will be easier to motivate yourself to accomplish things that excite you. Also, do not give up. If you go a couple of months and feel like you have not made a dent in your goals, it is ok to start fresh and adjust your accomplishments for the rest of the year. You do not have to live like you only have one shot (i.e. New Year's) in order to accomplish new things and keep yourself motivated. You can make any day and any month have a "New Year" attitude.

Melody of Wind

Check out the other parts of my series!
Part 1: Project ReStyle
Part 2: 22 Before 2012

Have a goal list for the year?? I would love to read up on it! Comment with a link!

A Wishlist of Books!

I have never been much of a heavy-duty novel reader, but I am always down for a good development, lifestyle, or craft book! Since most of these are published by Chronicle Book's, I am thinking I am in love with a new publishing company. I would love to stock my studio room with these droll-over beauties:

"An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By."

"Certain to inspire, this book from Nylon magazine features inventive street style from all over the world. Perfect for the fashion lover in your life, with blurbs about each photo and high quality heavier stock pages – perfect for flipping through again and again!"

"100 Artists Play a Collaborative Game"

The Good, The Bad, and the Barbie

"How to wear unique pieces and where to snag the best vintage in every state."

"Absolutely Everything You Need to Know"

"How to Design and Produce Your Own Book" 

"Fabulous Looks, Beauty Essentials, and Life Lessons for Loving Your Teens and Twenties"

"25 Charming Gifts, Accents, and Accessories to Make from Paper"

"The art of making a living in a cubicle without losing the passion to create"

"A rolling pin, a robot, a pickle, a water tower, a hammock, a wasp, a safety pin, a kiss"

"This highly visual compendium showcases the best, most thought provoking, and downright weirdest fanzines ever produced"

A Mailbox Full of Magazines

I am a magazine hoarder. There I said it! From middle school to my present 22 year old self, I have had an odd and slight obsession with magazines. So much so that during my Sophomore year of college and Senior year of college, I covered a complete wall in my dorm room with artwork and photographs from my favorite magazines:

I have to say, they made great backdrops for "spur of the moment" photo-shoots and served well as a centerpiece for my staring-off-into-space sessions. My "obsession" if you will, does not end at wall collages; I do actually like to read them. *wink*

Before I share my current all-time favorites, I thought I would give a little blast-from-the-past to my old magazine obsessions in middle school and high school:

 

Now that I am a wifey and have my own place, I have somewhat refrained from madly sprinkling our walls with magazine photographs, but I do have a beautiful collection of subscriptions (or prescriptions as I like to call them) that grace my mailbox.

Here is a peek into my subscriptions and most recommended print magazines for fellow creators, DIY projects, fashion, design, practical application, and lovers of life. 

1. HOW Magazine: Inspirational design, creativity, and business tips

2. do it YOURSELF: Amazing and affordable home DIY ideas

 

3. Martha Stewart Living: Thank goodness for Martha

4. The Nest Magazine: I LOVE the variety of marriage advice, DIY, recipes, and practical homemaking tips. It is like a quarterly handbook for being a homemaker!

5. print Magazine: Similar to HOW, this is an amazing resource for those who are into visual communication & design

6. NYLON: I love this magazine, not only for its unique and fresh layout, but it has amazing fashion, alternative, and music inspiration

7. Communication Arts: Amazing design and photography

8. REAL SIMPLE: Life is just better when it is organized

 

While on the topic of magazines, I have to pay tribute to my favorite retired magazine JANE. I wish someone would bring you back to life!

I have been hearing things here and there about some amazing virtual magazines. If you have any recommendations for print or virtual magazines, please leave your suggestions!! I want to know your favorites. 

101 Reasons to Buy Handmade

I found this amazing list called, "101 Reasons to Buy Handmade" on Poppytalk's blog. The handmade culture is just beautiful. I love seeing people use their talents and skills to make unique items. Every time I have ever bought or received a handmade item, it always felt like it carried more heart and thoughtfulness. Also, supporting crafters in their art is an honor and great feeling that I hope to continue to do for years and years to come! So, before I make a call to action, check out the following link:

And now, I am sure most of you have already done this...and if not, here is your opportunity! Buyhandmade.org has put together a handmade pledge:

Take the handmade pledge and support the craft culture! Give your loved ones a little somethin' extra special for Christmas this year. *wink*

Three cheers for handmade! Hip-Hip HOORAY! Hip-Hip HOORAY! Hip-Hip HOORAY! You can also go ahead and add on three more cheers because it is FRIDAY! 

If you have a handmade shop that you would like to share, comment and link up to your site! 

2 FAVORITE PHOTO APPS FOR YOUR SMART PHONE

March 24, 2010 is the day I started Project 365. The project is simple: one photograph, everyday for one year. I began keeping my Project 365 in an album on my Facebook page. In the midst of trying to think of creative ways to keep my project interesting, I began the search of photo applications for my current iPhone in order to give my photographs an interesting look.

Just a little background on camera status: I currently have a basic digital camera, but I mostly depend on my phone for my Project 365 photographs. However, I am crossing my fingers that the hubs will wrap me up a Nikon D40 beauty for under the Christmas tree this year...

I am also a huge fan of the Holga, Fisheye, Lomography look that plastic film cameras can offer, but going through the process of developing the film can set you back; specially if you are after a quick result for a project like 365. By the way, check out urban outfitters amazing selection of plastic cameras. While searching, I came across two great photo applications-- one for the iPhone and another for the Android.

1. Hipstamatic for the iPhone: "Digital photography never looked so analog." I love this application. It costs $1.99 and you can add additional cameras, lenses, and flashes to your library on the Hipstamatic for $.99. You end up with a huge variety of photographs you can produce at the quick touch of a button that have the same charm and life of the ones by plastic cameras of the past. Bonus: by using the Hipstamatic web site you also have the option of getting your photos printed!

2. Retro Camera for the Android: "Instant Nostalgia." While the Hipstamtic has tons to offer for the iPhone, Retro Camera does the same for the Android. It is an excellent alternative for the Android phones, plus it is FREE. Cannot beat that. You have a choice of five cameras and five settings of vintage vignetting as well as film scratch and cross processing effects. 

Doesn't this just make you want to find an old downtown area and go all hipstamatic-retro all over the place? Wishing everyone a happy weekend!

NOTE & POINT

For most of you, whether you are in school or fresh in a career, you will probably have to give a presentation at some point or another. And while it is easy to throw something together using PowerPoint or Keynote's easy to use templates, why not wow them with your sick design skills?

I recently ran across an amazing creative resource called: Note&Point. It gives an amazing amount of ideas and inspiration for creating a unique and eye-catching PowerPoint//Keynote.

Here is a sneak peak at some of the goodness:

Nothing like a good design resource to get your creative juices flowing! Happy PowerPointing!!