August Empress

In the same fashion as last year’s Twelve before 2012 list, these are the things I’d like to get done by the time 2013 rolls around:

1. Pre-launch a new digital product

2. Redesign The Darling Tree‘s website
6/11: Most design done, copywriting and development will be done in January so there’s still a little wait. 

3. Run 10km – DONE!
18/10: Bought this in neon pink/grey to track my runs here
4/11: 5km in 30:23 mins
9/11: 8km in 48:55 mins
30/11: I did it! 10km in 1 hr 2:33 mins

4. Book flights somewhere overseas

5. Finish the sketchbook project

6. Take a photography or darkroom class
23/10: Bought this 80′s film camera to take photos for class
6/12: Looking at this class for January 

7. Go jet skiing

8. Finish a painting on canvas

9. Find a fabric to revamp some furniture

10. Read at least 6 books – DONE!
22/10: Looking for Alaska (Nowhere near at good as The Fault in Our Stars)
4/11: The perks of being a wallflower (Loved it!)
8/11: The Gifts of Imperfection (Exactly what I needed to read)
9/11: This Way to Spaceship (Love Rhys Darby, thought the book would be funnier)
10/11: Make Your Idea Matter (So much wisdom)

11. Volunteer at AWLQLD - DONE!
11/12: I now volunteer once a week with the dog team, loving it!

12. Pay off the credit card
6/12: Half way there! 

13. Create a fun video for the blog
4/11: Have filmed some work in progress, may do a timelapse type of video

Do you have a list you’re working on? I’d love to hear what you’d like to achieve before the end of the year.

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Over the last few years there have been some incredible Pengiun classics cover redesigns by designers like Coralie Bickford-Smith (I particularly love her culinary themed book covers) and I was fascinated to read about a new Penguin Drop Caps collaboration between illustrator Jessica Hische and Paul Buckley. This will be a 26-book series of hardcover classics, each one feature a unique drop cap that Jessica is well known for through her project Daily Drop Cap. Judging by the first six covers, I would imagine that the whole set together will create a full rainbow of colour.

Let me introduce a new series I am having on the blog, where each fortnight on Friday I will share a creative design related video. I’ve featured Dana Tanamachi’s work previously on the blog here and here, and for the first Friday Footage video here’s an amazing timelapse video where Dana creates the chalk artwork that will appear on the Nagging Doubt Viognier wine label.

There are a few more timelapse video’s from Dana showcasing her talent on her Vimeo page.

I’m excited to share with you the latest amazing offering from Going Home to Roost‘s blog author Bonnie Forkner. Bonnie has recently launched the Roost Tribe, a monthly membership that provides exclusive downloads, freebies, and other fun resources and content!

Each month members receive 2 seamless repeating patterns, 10 graphics, 1 adobe illustrator video tutorial, 1 guided step-by-step video tutorial, 1 printable greeting card with matching gift cards, a monthly round up of favourite links, resources & websites, 1 iPhone and matching desktop calendar, a monthly gift guide with coupons and special offers, 1 special topic article and anything else Bonnie feels like including as a bonus.

All this for only $5/month, what’s not to love. Below is just a sneak peek of last month’s goodies, sign up today in time to start receiving all the October goodies.

Above is just a small example of all the amzing patterns created by Ashley Goldberg, I love the hand made feel of paint stroked and pencil lines, the rawness and feminine colour palettes.

You can check out Ashley’s Flickr and blog for more pattern goodness as well as paintings and illustrations. She also has some of her illustrative prints on sale in her Etsy shop.

Nice finds from around the web:

1. Your Darling Blog - Registration is open again for the next blog design workshop!

2. You’ve Been Foiled - Learn how to add custom foils to your cards or stationery.

3. Launch Effect App - A WordPress theme for viral launches.

4. STYLE Workshop - Learn HTML & CSS with Katrina from Pugly Pixel.

5. Darling Magazine - The Art of Being a Woman (print & digital versions).

6. Succulent Wall Art - I need one of these living artworks in my home.

7. Designer’s Bookshelf - Reviews for logo design, typography and web design books.

8. Newsletter Inspiration - Great examples of what you can do with Mailchimp.

Lovely mentions and links to August Empress:

Pugly Pixel – Links Loved

One Fine Day – Love Loave Luff

Fellow Fellow – Three for Free

Create as Folk – The Illuminated Purposepreneur: Jo Klima

The Celution – August Reads

BlueChic – Weekly Round-up #3

Mariages et Babillages – Les Blogs Déco

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11

Today I’m back to work after spending the last few days in Melbourne, I had such an amazing time there. The first couple of days were cold and very wintery, but luckily the sun came out for the rest of the trip. Much exploring was done, there are so many good things about Melbourne: hidden cafes and laneways full of delicious restaurants, pretty old buildings, great little shops and boutiques, street art and design on every corner.

I can’t wait to visit again, I’d love to check out more of the creative community and design events next time. Do you live in or have you been to Melbourne, are there any little discoveries you’d love to share?