unsolicited opinions on random things
Ian and I have liked the Ugly Dolls for a while, and have recently decided we just have to get one for the tadpole. They sell a bunch of them at Magic Pony on Queen West, so we’re gonna head out there sometime and pick one. But it’s so hard to decide – they’re all so wonderful. Which would you choose?
I saw this post on kottke.org and was blown away. Dana Tanamachi is a Brooklyn-based graphic designer and “custom chalk letterer” (which might take the cake for coolest job title ever). Of course she works at Louise Fili Ltd, where all that talent is being put to good use (sidenote: Jessica Hische used to work at Louise Fili).
Check out Dana’s portfolio on her website.
I love Uppercase Magazine, and look forward to each issue. But I’m really looking forward to Issue 8, which is set to arrive any day now. Uppercase asked a bunch of letterpress shops and artists to donate samples of their work to share with Uppercase subscribers. Each copy will feature a small letterpress sampler, and a few lucky lucky people will get all of the samples (over 50 items).
Have a look at Uppercase’s Flickr page for images of the letterpress samples. Check the Uppercase blog during the month of February for updates on the giveaway.
Are you sick of the snow yet? Having trouble seeing the beauty in winter when you have to trudge through the slush every day? Maybe these gorgeous winter travel photos from BudgetTravel will cheer you up. See the slideshow here.
You know I love me some gorgeous fonts. But sometimes when I look at my (giant) collection of typefaces, I’m not sure which one to use for a project. Or I need some inspiration on how to use the type well.
Lately I’ve been turning to two websites for help – Beautiful Type and Fonts in Use. Both feature photos and screen shots of type being used well in the real world. Beautiful Type will often credit the designer, but Fonts in Use takes it one step further – they’ll tell you exactly which typefaces are being used, and how, via a well-written editorial on each piece. So helpful!
On Wednesday I wrote about how much I loved Downton Abbey, and now that it’s over, there’s another TV miniseries I’m quite looking forward to – Mildred Pierce on HBO. (sidenote – don’t you love how TV miniseries are better than movies now?)
Mildred Pierce will air in March, and it stars Kate Winslett, Guy Pearce, and Evan Rachel Wood. It’s directed and co-written by Todd Haynes (who made the the Bob Dylan film I’m Not There and the Julianne Moore period drama Far From Heaven). For more info, watch the Behind-the-Scenes clip I’ve posted above.
Tina Fey has written an autobiography of sorts, called Bossypants. It comes out in hardcover and audio book on April 5. You know this one’s gonna be funny.
Have you heard about Downton Abbey, the 7-part British television miniseries? It aired on ITV in England back in the fall, and was just broadcast on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre in January (where it was cut differently, and pieced together into 4 parts).
I haven’t loved a drama so much in a long time – TV or movie. I couldn’t get enough of Downton Abbey. The writing is so good – the characters have so much depth. That’s thanks to Sir Julian Fellowes, who also wrote the fantastic film Gosford Park.
If you missed the show when it aired, don’t worry – the DVD is now available. Look for it at the video store, or buy it online here. Trust me – it’s well worth it.
And, if you can’t get enough of the show and want to know more, check out the mini-website that PBS put together for the show. There are Q and A’s, cast chats, and more info about the real-life location where Downton Abbey was shot.
Finally, it has been confirmed that a second season is coming. From Downton Abbey’s Wikipedia entry:
The second series will be composed of eight episodes. Filming begins in March 2011. The second series will air from Autumn 2011, and will be followed by a Christmas special later in the year.
Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Rob James-Collier and Dan Stevens have all signed up for the second series.
CAN. NOT. WAIT.
Check out these fun wallpapers offered by thecollection, a design shop in France.
To see them all, visit thecollection’s website, and click “on the wall”.
Ian and I went to Tofino, British Columbia a few years ago, and were impressed by how beautiful it is there. It’s at the end of the road, and its remote location is part of its charm. Mountains, beaches, islands, fog, pine trees… it’s the Pacific Northwest at its best.
Not far from Tofino is the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. Last week I read in the Globe and Mail that the resort used to be a pretty rustic place, but now they’ve gone all “eco-luxury”. Just look at those photos! Aren’t those tents amazing? They have in-floor heating, flush toilets, and indoor-outdoor showers.
Of course, this place isn’t cheap (oh, did I mention the private plane that flies you in? Or the 5-star dining and spa services in addition to the luxury accommodations?) but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I bet it’s worth every penny.