The Nest

At this year’s Burning Man, I happened to visit “Flight” by Robert Bengtson, an artist, photographer and materials designer. This interactive display featured angels praying around a birdcage and a birdhouse in which Burners could sit down on comfortable pillows, and write messages onto white paper feathers while piped-in bird songs played around them. This was one of the most beautiful pieces of art I saw on the Playa. Mr. Bengtson creates consistently beautiful designs, including last year’s Memortrees. Even his business card design is as light and airy as a feather.

While ready the latest issue of Mary Jane’s Farm, I saw an article on vet tech, farmer, beekeeper and artist Zan Asha. You might think she lives in the wilds of Vermont, but she does all these things in Brooklyn, of all places. Her art is created under the name Vagabond Creations and she sells several items on Etsy. I was completely charmed by her mama catfish and kittenfish. That mama does not seem to know what to do with her lively little kittenfish.

It may be because of the cold weather, but I’m falling deep under the spell of the warm, southern style and sound of Rising Appalachia. Not only do their voices and music make me want to wander through a moist bayou, but I might just decide to start dressing like them…but only on summer weekends.

While doing a search for scrapbooking designs for a website I’m working on, I ran into this wonderful design studio in Iowa. Avalon Rose Design, run by Catherine Haugland, has some of the most interesting vintage and layered designs I have seen in a while. Of course, I fell in love with her steampunk template above and would like to see more of those. Also, how cool is it that she also designed the logo and t-shirts for the Cornelia Marie (my favorite boat) on the Dealiest Catch?

My poor, poor neglected blog. How I have missed thee. I have been so busy with work and freelance work, my beauty of design blog had to take a summer break. Well, this photo from the Reno Slow Food group was inspiration enough to get me blogging again. Just look at that array of locally produced and cooked food. Beautiful! Fall is the perfect time to hole back up in the kitchen and create edible art. My new interest for the season is the Slow Food movement. I am determined to know more about where my food comes from and eat like a locavore. It’s a challenge, but one I am willing to take on…with knife and fork in hand.

I am itchin’ to get a few t-shirts and tank tops from this small company who makes these sassy designs. Perfect for this western gal.

Thanks to the Black Apple and Etsy, I found another lovely artist who reminds me of the drawings I used to create when I was a young bird before I got caught up in the corporate and freelance life. Julianna of Oh My Cavalier creates eerie and splendid little creatures that belong on any wall. They remind me of the bird headed women and drowned ladies I drew as a teenager.

I ran into this artist’s work through my husband and was mucho impressed with his style, color and use of lines. More and more unique artists are coming out of the Reno area. I hope to see more of them recognized.

We may be seeing some of these pieces on the walls of Peg’s Glorified Ham & Eggs downtown.

From Josh Mauldin (*via Twitter from CMD+Shift) I found this blog post for Photoshop users on creating your own random music album cover. Above is the debut of the band Rajshahi Collegiate School.

I recently fell head over heels for this graphic design firm in Northern California. They not only do wonderful, creative design, but have come up with the Official Tooth Fairy Kit, which I never knew I needed until it was too late.