April 19th. Oklahoma City Bombing 15th Anniversary.

No matter where you stand politically,

what happened 15 years ago today was a tragedy and shouldn't have taken place.

I was only 10 years old but the memory is so clear in my mind,

mostly because it's my first memory of wanting to help people I had never met.

I can't imagine what it must have been like.

Living here in Oklahoma City during this tragedy.

As much as I have a love/hate relationship with living in Oklahoma City I feel very attached to it, OKC is very much where I consider my real home to be.

I was in my hometown, 1.5 hours north of OKC, when this took place.

So, I was much more removed than people who grew up here.

But I rememember, as a girl scout, our troop preparing care packages to send to firefighters.

And feeling very upset and confused.

Just wondering how someone could harm so many innocent people...

...in the name of any cause.

My 10 year old mind just couldn't wrap around that concept.

It still doesn't really.

-Angela

ps. Sorry for the lack of posts. I am working on a redesign of the ole blog.

Debbie Millman.

Had the pleasure of meeting the design hero of many last night, Debbie Millman. She spoke at the Montgomery for the Oklahoma City chapter of AIGA about the science of the human brain, why we have the need to "brand" things, how humanoids are reconnecting and rehumanizing technology with social networking, and about augmented reality and where she thinks technology is going with it. REALLY enlightening talk. 

Above are a few pics of her, her book, a few brands in Sterling's portfolio, and us last night. 

If you don't already know about Debbie Millman, here are a few facts: 

Debbie Millman is President of the Design division at Sterling Brands, New York, host of the radio show "Design Matters" on DesignObserver.com, the Chair of the new Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts, a contributing Editor at Print Magazine, a design blogger for Fast Company and an author on the design blog Brand New. She is the President of AIGA and the author of three books: How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer (Allworth Press, 2007),Essential Principles of Graphic Design  and Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design. (HOW Books, 2009). How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer is currently in its fourth printing and has been translated in four languages. A sequel, How To Think Like A Great Brand Designer, will be published by Allworth Press in 2010.

Do you guys have any creative heros?

-Angela

Tree Tapestry.

I love this new tapestry added onto the Urban Outfitters site yesterday. 

As you may or may not know. I have a thing for tree silhouettes and textures. 

I think this might go really well in my bedroom behind my bed or on my bed. 

What do you guys think of tapestries? Do you have any in your place?

-Angela

Self Portrait.

Sometimes you don't even need to be in the picture to take a self portrait. 

Been reallllyyy busy the past couple days. But wanted to drop in and read a few posts from my fellow bloggers. Hope you guys are having a lovely week. 

-Angela

Snow Day.

Pics from yesterday. ;) The boredom in my house was too much and we decided to get out and take some pictures. Didn't take long before we were right back in the house and making another pot of coffee, though.

But man, snow produces some pretty flattering lighting. Gonna have to take advantage of this a little more.

Happy snow day!

-Angela

Snowed In.

When I saw snow outside this morning, I decided to make something for breakfast to warm me up.

...and of course I had to capture a slice of beauty while the eggs were cooking.

Work was cancelled after all and I had all the time in the world.

Because there is nothing else to do but stay inside, edit photos, and have coffee with a fellow snowed in friend.

Just another extreme ice/snowstorm in Oklahoma. The weather here is always changing. Wednesday was in the mid 60s and beautiful.

I always have to have a little reminder of brighter times in my house though.

Call it anti-depressive living.

What do you do when snowed in? I think me and my friend are about to go romping outside in the snow finally. Maybe I'll get a few pictures of that too.

-Angela

Inspiration - Jessica Hische

Wanted to share one of my favorite Graphic Designers with you guys. 

Since I first saw her work, she immediately made me feel validated as a "girly designer".

Her work is imaginative, vintage inspired....

...ornate, detailed, quirky....

...and unapologetically feminine whilst being badass all at the same time. 

She is even disciplined enough to have a blog featuring a beautifully detailed design of a drop cap. Every day. Designed just to beautify the blogosphere. 

Makes me want to buy a beautiful letter pressed one just for my bedroom. 

Find her websites here:

http://jessicahische.com/

http://jessicahische.blogspot.com/

http://dailydropcap.com/

Who inspires you lately?

-Angela

Testing out the 1.4 50mm Lens

While I have been waiting for my new 1.4 50mm lens to come in the mail from B&H, 

my very kind friend Joel is letting me borrow his. 

I have been loving experimenting with it. Sunday was a lazy day of editing

 photos and snapping a few pictures from the comfort of my fluffy bed. 

This lens captures light sooo well! And the depth of field is to die for. 

Only thing that has been difficult getting used to is the focal length. 

I have to stand back a lot farther from objects than normal with this lens. 

But it is so worth it. 

Have you guys gotten any new toys that help you explore your creativity lately?

-Angela