And to think it's just paper

Sometimes I come across something that makes me so jealous.  Jealous for more time to do fun, artistic things like I used to do when I was a child.  I was just sharing with my children stories about my grandmother and the great artistic and creative visionary she was.  She and I used to do so many great creative things together--she taught me origami and cookie decorating I just didn't appreciate at the time.  She used to make decorated Christmas cookies for her friends that would rival any gift you could conceive; she would hand paint a Santa Claus face that made you place the cookie on the tree or in a place of prominence, but you would never be able to eat it (even though it was delicious)!

When I came across this fun collection from Real Simple Magazine this week, I wanted to share it with all of you.  It's amazing you can do these things with paper alone.  And let me tell you, there's nothing simple about these paper creations.  Enjoy this treat and break from your busy day!

Rest that spoon with style

As you've surely guessed by now, I am a fan of simple, clever and fun designs.  When I see them I like to share them with you (though I'm tempted to keep them all to myself).  I have recently been shopping for some sort of unique or interesting bookshelf for my office, as my reference collection is growing more quickly than my places to keep them.  I am pretty sure I have found the unique piece I'm planning to add to the office, but in my online shopping quest for great, fun design, I came across some pieces you might like to purchase for me, I mean yourself.

I have been enjoying the funky, chunky designs by Chicago's Circa Ceramics.  Right now I am leaning toward the one shown here that looks quite a bit like the gears of creativity here at aha creative, but I will probably have to order more than one for the office to share when you come in for coffee.  These are right up my alley with the lively colors and black sketches that just match my office perfectly.  Make sure you check out their site here and their etsy shop here.  

I sure wish I were going to be in Chicago for their upcoming sale....that sounds quite fabulous.

Passion for...

Fashion!  I just finished the site design for my favorite new friend and client....Erik Anderson at Erik's Clothing for Men.  He's a neighbor, just a couple blocks away here in lovely downtown Sandusky and I had so much fun creating and developing his site.  You have to meet him to see his true passion for fashion, but I try to give just a little taste of that in the site.  Feel free to check it out--it's aha creative from the ground up, including photography, development and design.

Stop in the store and do some shopping for the best men's clothing you'll find within a 50-mile radius or more.

In honor of old-school day at aha creative...

I have deemed today to be old-school day at aha creative.  The waters of Sandusky Bay are rolling by, white cap by white cap, and I have decided to make today "manual" work day, getting back to my creative roots.  I've handwritten the first draft of a client's newsletter with scribbly pen ON PAPER, the elevator isn't working so it's 6 floors up and down on the stairs, and I have just assembled a cute little mini paper cut & paste mock-up of an idea/project I've been working on recently.  What fun!  As is typical, you probably think I'm a little nutty for getting giddy about that kind of work--but it's inspirational and sends me back to my days as an entry-level graphic designer.  Okay, this is WAY more fun, but sliding the keyboard away is good for all of us once in a while.

To honor this old-school mantra, I am sharing the fun little tool that currently tops my most-wanted list.  And, no, it's not the iPad.  Of course that's on the list, but I didn't really think I wanted or needed an iPod at first either....  Right now I would just love to get my hands on 2010's answer to the ultimate old-school rebel-rousing device:  The Polaroid Instant Camera. 

Have you seen the modern version—the Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera?  Wowie...here it is.  Doesn't it even just look modern and cool on the outside?  I imagine that nice white exterior could cause a little problem with late-night diner photo sessions or crazy mud-sliding teens at Lollapalooza, but hey, it will look good for a while.  This thing looks just great, pumping out cute little credit-card sized mini prints for the crazy middle-schooler in all of us.  

And in case you want to buy it, I'm sending to you a store I found that I've just fallen in love with-the Photojojo store.  It's a magical must-see for everyone who likes photography (even if you're like me and don't have much time for it).   Make SURE you check out the sweet jelly camera phone filters.  I have to get some of those for certain.  Happy snapping!