A mailer for Sideways...

The novel... Because once you have seen the movie and loved it, you need to read, or better listen to the audio book.

The idea behind this last project was to create a package for something not tangible, as it is the case of an e-book. How to package such? How to make people interested in it and direct them to look online? That was the challenge.

I created a box/book looking package that one could put on a coffee table. It carried the nice lime green color of the movie case. On the left side, a handy magnet with a 'helpful' website where you can download the e-book completely free!
On the right side has a velum cover with a phrase from the movie -- "It's not exactly finalized yet", which engages the viewer.  Flip the page and you encounter a nice looking corkscrew.


What a better combination -- because if you feel like finalizing the whole deal by listening to the e-novel and drinking a bottle of wine, you better have a handy 'Helpline' in case you end up drinking and dialing!

Indie one-o-seven Vehicle

Promotional vehicle for the fictional Indie radio station I've been working on in my GD III... Happy that this  radio station project/business is over!!
I can't help, but going back in time every time I look at this 'combi', and I have to admit; this illustration not  only gave me sleepless nights... but a lot of nostalgia.

Happy with the overall design. I went for a retro almost rusty look and I think I was pretty successful. The bright yellow color, definitely gives it an Indie feeling -- happy with life, content with the surroundings and the hopeful feelings about the days to come!  Well, that is, I should say, my very personal view and take on the Indie culture.

Indie one-o-seven Bus Hut

A nice bus hut sign for GDIII that needs some serious work. Posted just so the 'model' can see it.

Indie one-o-seven

What have I been doing lately?
...Having fun with logo/brand identity!

Making of a sketchbook

Something that one should know about a creative mind is that there are always several projects going on around us and a million more going on in our head.

I want to make my own sketch book this time -- the ones I've had in the past are plain, dull, empty, prosaic...
I want to build a more efficient sketchbook. One that will dare me to open it and once it's open, will inspire me and get me going. Is this expectation for a sketchbook too high?

So far, I have the color palette I'd like to incorporate within this sketchbook. I know that once started, it will continue to change...

Staying focused...

When a long night awaits... It is good to visualize. 

Mockup

It's not all about food...
I've been working hard on my classes as well. Here, the first mockup for my package design class -- a  button box. The concept: don't judge a book by its cover.

The box is 4.25x5.75 inches (when closed). I though it might make a good candy box or a stationery note cards contained. The inside is a complete surprise.... isn't it?

Yumolicious!

About some inspiration around the kitchen to welcome my favorite season?

Cinnamon Baked Apples with Tangerines and Cranberries

(serves 4)

2 large baking apples, such as McIntosh or Rome Beauty

1 1/4 cups unsweetened apple juice, preferably unfiltered organic

1/2 cup (2 ounces) dried cranberries

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 seedless clementines or tangerines, peeled, separated into segments

Heat oven to 400F. Cut apples in half lengthwise; cut out and discard core, seeds, and stems. Place 1/4 cup of the apple juice in an 8-inch baking dish or casserole. Place apples cut side down over juice. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until apples are tender. Meanwhile, simmer remaining 1 cup apple juice in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add cranberries, cinnamon and cloves; reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes, or until cranberries are plumped, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in clementine sections. Arrange apple halves, cut sides up, on serving dishes. Pour any remaining liquid from dish into cranberry mixture; spoon over apples.

Identity - try one...

I was asked to create a business card for a brand new business. The challenge is not the business card itself, but the creation of their logo.
It's a good thing I've started my GD III class. It promisses a lot of logo design and brand identity content.
First mockup/idea as follows... Colors are a must - client really likes blue and as far as the square format, still in discussion.

Texturizing...

Some textures I will be working with pretty soon... It's hard to decide for one, and sometimes I feel like using them all... More details about this special project soon.

Looking at them all together made me realize... I do like flowers!!!

Pretty desktop...

Have I said how much I love my laptop?
...I try to dress her up as pretty as possible in every opportunity I find.

...I feel like painting all of the sudden, but thinking about the time it is and the amount of "moving things around" that this will require, stops me. Perhaps tomorrow, when the sun is shinning and the kids are on the backyard trowing a ball.

Have I mentioned how Tegan and Sara have made my days so pleasant lately? ...Their music rejuvenates me in a way that I can't explain... Makes me feel super girly!  Thumbs up to these amazing sisters!!

...get well soon!

After two weeks in the hospital and a procedure where doctors removed the stones in her gallbladder, my sister is back home... Being so far away made the "welcome home" hard, but I managed to have some flowers delivered to her along with this little note. Hoping these few words can say how much I wish I was there...

lazy summer (cont.)

...and the final contact-card that accompanied my flan:

FPU classmates seamed to like the chocolate flan. Most of them took cards and thought the idea was clever. I can't wait to take the first order!!

Lazy summer

I started to feel bad about the lazy summer I am having (in terms of design creation), so I opted for updating this almost-forgotten blog. I think the new look is fresh, I'm pretty happy with the change. I plan on keeping it up to date from now on; no matter how insignificant the event might seem, it will be recorded here.

We'll be having the last FPU meeting on Tuesday. I am bringing some chocolate flan and the following two-sided cards along with it -- who knows, if the flan gets to be a hit, I might get some business going! Click on the pictures to see them bigger.

. . . After working on this post for a while and as I was doing my regular search for inspiration, I came across this 101 Cookbooks site that I found absolutely inspiring... I really think this is something I would love to do one day! 

one day

One of these days I will catch up with so many projects/ideas I have in my head...

My flan creation

I've been thinking about having a baking sale for quite a while. I've been exploring my options... Perhaps the family favorite should be the way to go -- a traditional mexican flan.


Flan is an oven-baked caramel custard dessert that is quite popular in Mexico. It is made with a top layer of custard paired with the sweetness of a light caramel sauce. When chilled and then inverted to un-mold, the sauce pours over the custard. The typical flavoring is simply vanilla, but there are numerous variations -- coffee being my favorite!


Here my attempt in advertising my vanilla flan. . . Enjoy!

Riverfest 2010

It's summer and there's not much going on in my creative world. Despite that, I wanted to post something... I received a few pictures of the RiverFest kiosk project that I've been part of (production part only)... Even the smallest contribution makes you feel good once it's completed!

Summer is in the air...

I want to put the camera down, pack it in a box and forget about it for a while, but I can't.

Instead, I find myself looking out for "good shots" and thinking of a good composition... I think one day, I'll become a great photographer... One day.

In the meantime, here's a little taste of summer shot in the middle of May.

Material publicitario para publicación en Español

Oh yes... También hablamos Español!

Marketing Material for Spanish
speaking publication.
Spring 2010 

I had so much fun in the shooting for this ad (Fall 2009)... I am certain that Amy and Said did as well!

!!!

Is it over yet?!!

I can't see the end of this semester... I wonder if it's a case of senioritis? Which according to the so "reliable" Wikipedia, the main symptoms of senioritis include procrastination, lack of motivation, a drop in academic performance, and "coasting", which is the act of going through classes with very little concentration or application of intent along with truancy. 

[Note that, Wikipedia was honest enough to let me know that citation was needed]

I am happy to be in the place I am.

Going back to college was the hardest decision I had to make after having Diego. I didn't want to fail as a mother... You know what they say, mothers are supposed to stay home with their babies. It was a wise decision though.
I am glad I've met the people I have. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I am surrounded by nice,  caring, intelligent and even funny people =)  It brings me comfort when I think of how far away I am from my parents and other people that I love.
I am happy to be able to attend school and work within campus. I've heard some people say IPFW is not a real college experience, but for me, it's been a heck of one. I'm what the University calls non-traditional student; struggling through obstacles that can make the experience tough as well, but I am proud to say that when that's the case I suck it up, keep pushing, keep pulling and move forward.
My fuel has been low lately. I feel old, tired and unmotivated. I want a nice project/homework-free summer. A sumer full of playgrounds, bike rides, walks in the park, long breezy nights, and unlimited iced coffee. When the fall semester of 2010 starts, I want to be ready and completely re-fueled.

Wait... How could I forget about my Physical Sciences class during the summer? Well, that's not that bad, is it?

The Best Birthday Ever

In spite the rainy weekend, celebrating my birthday wasn't a challenge. And even though I had the last photography assignment to complete, I managed to succeed.

Rainy, bright and monochromatic -- that's how I should describe my last birthday celebration.

A comic strip. Anime style!

Does this look funny to you?
I hope so, because this is DONE! No more adding/editing/changing or correcting. DONE!

[... who am I kidding?]

My anytime Fuel

This is a must try for yourself. 

Guaranteed.

 

+  

A portrait assignment...

Although my Photography instructor didn't care much for it, I was pleased with how the very first portrait studio assignment turned out... Yes, subject matters and since my kids are what matters the most in my life, this assignment is an A+ for me  =)

This beautiful girl started violin lessons a few months ago, and so far she loves it. I went in the studio with the sole idea of capturing the joy she feels and conveys while she plays such beautiful violin.

Best of all, I got to capture the playful, innocent, and lovely side of this gorgeous girl.

We even got to do a version of "Snow White". In the meantime, she took a minute to relax... 

Modeling can be exhausting!

i feel like poetry tonight...

... Me gusta cuando callas...

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,

and you hear me from far away and my voice does not touch you.

It seems as though your eyes had flown away

and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.

As all things are filled with my soul

you emerge from the things, filled with my soul.

You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream,

and you are like the word Melancholy.

I like for you to be still, and you seem far away.

It sounds as though you were lamenting, a butterfly cooing like a dove.

And you hear me from far away, and my voice does not reach you:

Let me come to be still in your silence.

And let me talk to you with your silence

that is bright as a lamp, simple as a ring.

You are like the night, with its stillness and constellations.

Your silence is that of a star, as remote and candid.

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,

distant and full of sorrow as though you had died.

One word then, one smile, is enough.

And I am happy, happy that it's not true.

... I Like for You to be Still,  Pablo Neruda...

Sketching... Was I meant for it?

I've been trying so hard...
Sketching frustrates me!... It should be my number one tool when designing though...
My attempt at sketching a cartoon strip that narrates what I did during spring break:

I wish I had done more drawing when I was a little girl...
The only memory I have is the one when my classmate -- which lived just a couple of blocks from my house, came over to draw with me. We would sit on top of a rusty car or on the sidewalk across street. We drew for a while, mostly cartoon-looking people from our text books... I remember being good. What happened?



Finished piece.

Self-abstract Found

Another found piece...
or should I say sketch? ... Yes. sketching with photoshop.
One day I will do something big with this piece. One day I will make it valuable and transcendent.

Kudos to Blogger

Blogger has launched its new Template Designer feature, which I found pretty cool... Not that the old tool was bad, but this new feature is pretty closed to what I am used to -- windows live space.
Once again, kudos to blogger!

I came across this picture that I took back in 2008 as a reference for my Drawing Fundamentals II . I thought it would be a nice compliment to this new look  =)
There is something about dead flowers that I cannot resist. The texture, the colors, the form, the smell...  They're so beautiful even when they're dead. . .

The Making of a Portfolio - day seven (waiting)

Portfolio has been turned in and reviewed by the faculty...

This is day seven of waiting...

As I adventured with this project, I never imagined how labored and time consuming it would be! Once completed (even though there are a few things I could still work on), all the hard work paid off, and that little fella became my baby =)

Here a brief compilation of two intense weeks full of hard work and dedication.

I started by invading my dinning room with a big work table that I had completely forgotten about, which became pretty handy when combined with the dinning table. 

The cutting started and so the paper cuts!

Then the gluing, which I found to be the most time consuming! -- All those books finally became handy, and that molcajete*  that I haven't used in ages, finally got to hang out with me for a while. 

As far as the design, I wanted something clean, professional and elegant. After looking at several different types of papers, colors and textures, a simple brown kraft paper measured up. Complimented by a nice mate black paper on the inside.

Eyelets are quite interesting, but easier to assemble than what I thought. Unfortunately, I couldn't find black ones, so spray paint and acrylic paint did the job.

  

this blog to be continued...

* A molcajete (Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl mulcazitl) is a stone tool, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle tool. Molcajetes are used to crush and grind spices, and prepare salsas, and guacamole.