Inspiration of the Month {March}

Nina Harcus' "Type Delight" is a recipe book with illustrative handmade food typography that follows the story of Marcelle, a Patisserie Chef who falls in love with typography. As an avid lover of eating, baking, and good typography, this series is especially inspiring to me. I might just have to try it out next time I'm mixing up some cupcakes! Edible typography at its finest.

Satoki Nagata's photoseries "Lights in Chicago" brilliantly captures black and white portraits in the streets of Chicago on cold winter nights. She uses a slow shutter speed and a powerful flash to create abstract photographs that almost look like double exposures. The unpredictable combination of delicate snowfall, city lights, and cold breath makes each photograph especially intriguing. Absolutely stunning, to say the least.

Lately I've been especially fascinated with aerial photographs. In his photo series titled "Honkey Kong," Stockholm-based photographer Christian Åslund positions his subjects to mimic 2D arcade games. Messes with your mind in the best way possible! Here are a few of my favorites:

Below is the music video for "Caves In" by Scott James, directed by Alexander Blackmon and Trevor Thompson. I recently stumbled upon Scott James on YouTube and I instantly fell in love with every song, especially "Caves In" and "Garden." He has such a compelling voice, and with the gentle accompaniment of acoustic guitar and piano, it's flawless. And can we just talk about the video for a second? Impeccable. I've never watched a music video that has evoked within me such a craving to travel; I just wanted to hop on the next train out of here with a guitar on my back, and get lost in the absolute beauty of the world. Complete wanderlust. This particular video was filmed near Stevensville, Montana in 30-degree weather. I honestly have never seen such breathtaking scenery and I'd love to travel there myself someday. The snow-covered railroad tracks, the frosted mountains, the towering pines, everything. The song and video go together perfectly, and I hope you enjoy them both as much as I do! :)

If you're looking for more interesting photos on your Instagram feed, I have a lovely suggestion for you. Check out @withhearts on Instagram, and you will be nothing short of amazed. Corey Staudacher is a designer/photographer from Seattle, and his Instagram photos always blow me away. Here's a sneak peek (and yes, the wonderfully talented boys and girl of The Lumineers are featured in one of these photos):

Hope everyone had a wonderful month of March! Here's to an even better April! Happy Spring :)

xx Kristin

Inspiration of the Month {February}

I recently stumbled upon photography mastermind Kyle Thompson, a 21-year-old photographer from Chicago. As seen in a majority of his photos, he is particularly inspired by abandoned houses, forests, and horror movies. I personally find a great deal of inspiration from abandoned or run-down places, so I find his work to be especially intriguing. Many of his photographs seem to tie fantasy and reality together seamlessly in a haunting fashion. Each photograph stands on its own as a piece of art with a powerful presence and emotional connection. I love that he makes a point to create nonexistent moments rather than simply capturing existing moments.

Just last week, I finally got the chance to watch The Breakfast Club. Classic coming-of-age 80s movie. I had no idea of the greatness I was missing out on. It far exceeded my expectations and left me speechless with that hugely satisfying feeling after watching an exceptional film. I genuinely loved every second of it; made it onto my list of favorite movies. The Breakfast Club teaches us that everyone, and I mean everyone, is struggling with something, whether they show it or not. So let us all get to know one another before judging people at face value. We're all human, and we all have stories. And it's okay to be vulnerable. "We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all." Sincerely, The Breakfast Club. *cue "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds*

For those of you who know me, it's definitely no secret that I love folk rock music. I recently discovered an indie folk band called Bennett, and I cannot stop listening to them. Their sound is reminiscent of Mumford & Sons and The Head and the Heart, though they definitely add their own special twist. Incredible harmonies and instrumentation. This "group of brothers at heart" definitely deserves to be heard. My favorites are "Old Time Father" and "Days Are Running," but all of their songs are worth listening to. Check out their music at http://bennettband.bandcamp.com! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. :)

While we're on the topic of music, I'll share another band that's been on my radar. A friend of mine introduced me to History of Painters, an alternative/folk band from San Luis Obispo. I can't get enough of their uplifting melodies and heartwarming lyrics. Earlier today they played at Cal Poly's UU Concerts in the Plaza, so I got the chance to see them perform live. They truly are amazing musicians, and their sweet, down-to-earth personalities are reflected in their music. Definitely give them a listen on Spotify! Recently I've been especially loving "Blue Dress" and "Loveliest". Let me know what you think! :)

If you're a graphic designer, illustrator, or even just a design enthusiast, this website will likely get you pumped. http://color.hailpixel.com allows you to move your mouse back and forth to adjust hue, lightness, and saturation, and then save hex codes for certain colors with a simple click. I've already utilized this lovely website to find suitable colors for multiple design projects. And sometimes it's just fun to mess around with! Here's a screenshot of what the site looks like once you've saved several colors. Go check it out for yourself!

xx Kristin

P.S. What music have you been listening to lately? I would love some recommendations!