peace + paper

Today I’m loving…

new perspective

                                               courtesy of the voice translation

early morning meetings

                                               because they were actually interesting today

a little life direction

                                               long overdue

creative juices

                                               from a beautiful, creative friend

the international terminal at O’Hare

                                              because mom finally came home!

onion rings

                                              on the porch on a perfectly breezy night

…and these stamps I mentioned on Sunday from the Little Cat Studio. They’re perfect and I want them all. Could I find an excuse for each one? Probably.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

5 | 6 | 7 | 8

dress your desktop

So, here’s what I told myself. I said Kate, you have a horrible habit of not unpacking and it’s really not attractive in a lady. Your clothes sit in your suitcase at the foot of your bed for days and days and weeks and weeks and then they are ruined and your room is a mess. So you cannot even touch Illustrator or your blog until it’s done. Got it?

I tried, I really did. To be fair, I half unpacked. I took everything out of the suitcases, at least. True, they’re in piles around my room. True, I haven’t done as spot of laundry. And, true, I did finish up those desktop wallpapers for you before a spot of clothing was put into a drawer. But, hey. I’m only human.

So this is me half delivering half of my promise from last week (trend? ohpleasegodno). For your downloading pleasure, here are four desktop wallpapers in honor of those lazy, hazy, crazy dog days of summer (we are right smack dab in the middle of what apparently is a heat dome? Someone is making this stuff up. Stephen King should be getting commission). The labels are forthcoming. Click on each image to download them for yourself, and if you’d like to see the wallpapers in different dimensions/for iPhone/iPad leave me a comment and I’ll add them!

Have a happy, happy Thursday!

sneak peek

Okay, here’s a confession.

So I had these great plans of giving you all some pretty gorgeous freebies today (if I do say so myself) but my alter ego, Policy-Nerd Kate, got the best of me yesterday and I listened to some brilliant people talk about free markets and health policy for four hours and didn’t get around to finishing.

Sorry, not sorry.

But the good news is this: next week you’ll get two freebies. Think desktop wallpapers and labels, think pattern, think color, think picnic, you’re welcome. Contrary to popular belief I have been working on graphic design projects and Adobe and I have been spending some quality time together. After they launch I’ll be sure to share, but in the meantime, enjoy this lil sneak peek and keep checking back.

Also go and check out…

this photographer

this blog

this ongoing giveaway

this bracelet

and this laugh.

Happy Thursday!

secret skills and good design

Remember how I said I was surrounded by 24 policy super-nerds? Remember how one openly wants to be president, one states his life’s passion is wheeling and dealing, and how another has already acted as a visiting professor at the ripe ole age of 20? *Ok, I may have forgotten to mention these things, but the point is that these nerds are intense with a capital INSANE.

Intimidated? You’re not alone. At first I was, too. And then I realized most of them are filled with hot air. And then someone kindly pointed out to me yesterday that I have a major advantage over them all:

Me (in response to finding out this super-nerd has been published in three major news publications and journals): You’ve done what? Oh my stars. I’m so behind. I can’t compare.

Super-Nerd: That is so not true.

Me: Um, good one. We’ve only been discussing the glass ceiling for the last three hours and I didn’t go to an Ivy League or sell my soul to the devil or teach civic duty in Malaysia…so…

SN: Doesn’t matter. You’re going to beat out all of us.

Me: Oh, please, you’re on something *Pause* Just out of curiosity, what would that be?

SN: Well, aside from the fact that you’re bossy and hot, you’re also tall. Tall trumps all. I wish I was tall.

Finally. While I wish my biggest asset is my superior intellect or overall awesomeness, at least I’ve got my height going for me (I knew it had to come in handy someday! I’ll get ahead by intimidation factor alone *insert evil laugh here*).

* * *

I’m tired and  can’t think of a good transition into design today (mostly because my head is too full of banking legislation and the hilarious performance of Second City I saw last night), so consider this your transition. One designer that keeps popping up on my radar as I work on some freelance graphic design projects is Fuzzco, the brains behind some of the more brilliant campaigns you may have seen at Mail Chimp, Zynga, eHarmony, and Lunch and Recess. They have an excellent eye for color, a perfect balance of ornate and simple lines, and an all-around great sense of humor (always appreciated). Go check out their website, dribbble, facebook, and blog and get inspired.

Stay beautiful and don’t take any wooden nickels. Happy Wednesday!

blush & chalk

I’m slapping my wrists, I’m cowering in shame…

I’ve finally settled into my schedule and I’m back.

Finals really did me in. I had two 10+ page papers due the day before I began four incredibly rough exams. And as soon as they ended, I moved out. And as soon as I moved into my house, I started an 8-5 job (my suitcases are STILL unpacked in my room. Again with the cowering in shame…). And then on Thursday we drove to Texas so I could see my new baby cousin! She is beautiful, she can work her little tongue like nobody’s business, and the next time I see her she’s going to be huge and saying my name, because she loved me (that’s kind of a lie. I looked at her and smiled at one point this weekend and she immediately started to cry. But that was an isolated case and I am chalking it up to a fluke…I may not have my daddy’s touch with babies but they typically love me. It’s the gargantuanly huge eyes, I swear). I also got to meet my older cousin’s boyfriend, which was pretty much just as exciting. Our family is fully on board both the Gracie and the John boats. Fully.

And now that I’m decompressed, looking forward to a summer (and semester!) of good, good changes, I am fully committed to you. And to letting you into the excitement as it starts.

And we’re kicking it off with someone who’s been incredibly inspiring to me lately, the beautiful and talented Dana Tanamachi. You’ve probably seen her work in Time Magazine, or O Magazine, or in Tommy Hilfiger’s store front, or a numberof other huge names, but this is one incredible designer. She worked for my design icon, Louise Fili (like another, Jessica Hische), found her calling recreating vintage typefaces, and chose chalk as her medium. Her work is heavenly. I’m trying this new thing where I’m not making any promises, but * hopefully * I’l be posting some of my work soon, and her method is one of my biggest inspirations. I love her. I actually do.

Go look at her portfolio, her Dribbble, and this interview, and I think you’ll see what I mean.

Till tomorrow!

on windows + tacosOh, aren’t you lucky, you get a late night Saturday post because I already finished up all the images for a post I was supposed to do Thursday! Procrastination, thy name is Kate. Sorry not sorry.

Today was the first Saturday I didn’t have to work in oh, I don’t know, EVER, because I quit my most interesting job and am now free, free, free! I spent it in Geneva and Oak Brook with a friend shopping and enjoying not pulling my hair out at entitled people clamoring for a table or drunk guys clamoring for my number. I’m telling you, I feel so good.

If you’re ever in the area, you should really check out Bien Trucha (best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted), Cocoon, and The Paper Merchant. I struck gold at all three today, and then my wonderful Mother surprised me withmy favorite pie from Hoosier Mama Pie Company (not in Geneva, but if you are a sucker for banana cream you need to find a way to eat this. Not joking. Need.)

It was all so relaxing and so crafty and reminded me of The Renegade Craft Fair where I not only discovered Hoosier Mama for the first time but also the work of Jose Guizar, whose newest project, The Windows of New York, has got me enchanted. He walks around New York taking pictures of windows and then digitalizes them absolutely brilliantly. I need to find where I can get prints of these.

Go take a look at the rest of his work and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

spring fever

Well gang, this is it. The last day. The grand finale.

I’m depressed (not really. I’m too tan and happy to be depressed. But I did just read on weather.com [my love-hate relationship with this bearer of bad news knows no bounds] that it is currently snowing in Chicago. Not sure if I can handle that…).

Anyway, I just got back from the best meal of my life at The Red Bar (stuffed eggplant with shrimp and scallops if you were wondering, and yes, it did disappear in about 2.3 minutes flat) and I am currently plotting how I can convince them to give me their recipe so that I can eat that little slice of heaven every night for the rest of my life. Batting my eyelashes? Grovelling at their feet? Breaking in and forcibly snatching it? Anything to bring a little bit of summer with me back to the Arctic Tundra.

I feel like this break has ruined me. No way I will be able to stand thirty degree weather after laying on a beach for so long, much less studying (I shudder at the thought). I definitely have been bitten with a touch (okay, a sucker punch) of spring fever. I’m scoffing at any blog posts about snow and skiing and down jackets. I’m developing a new affinity for the color green. There’s a pretty good chance I’m going to be subjecting my poor (newly tanned!) legs to frostbite next week when I refuse to wear long pants.

In the spirit of spring, take a look at this beautiful branding design done by Kevin Cantrell for Hawthorne & Wren. I love the earthy textures and vibrant greens, and I really love the packaging options (I’m a sucker for tins, especially those tall cannisters). More photos after the jump. Go check out all of Kevin’s work (his typography is impeccable. I’m brimming with inspiration for my own projects). Enjoy your weekend (and send warm thoughts my way)!

 Here's what I did today: wrote a children's book proposal.


Here's what I really just can't do anymore today: write.


Here's what inspired me that you should look at: the work of Dadu Shin.


Here's what I'll do tomorrow: give you some pretty Pinterest pictures.


Okay that's about 50 words too many. Bye, friends!

Today you get special words of wisdom, Kate style. I know that all of these things will universally apply to everyone and anything (ha), so be sure to pay close attention (double ha). Drumroll, please!

1) Don’t ever ever ever do the Daniel Fast for more than two weeks unless you have a truly iron will, do not care about the taste of the food you put into your body, or a stomach of pure steel.

2) If you do not possess all of the qualities above and insist upon eating like a masochistic caveman for a month, do not, I will repeat for slower readers, do not jump right back in to eating like a person who likes to eat normal food the day your fast ends.

       2b) Especially with the flu going around.

3) If you ignore the above advice and insist upon eating delicious Swedish pancakes and Pasta Fresca, even small amounts of each, with flu season in full swing, be prepared for a night of agony in the bathroom.

4) If you are not used to throwing up, like I am, and forget that you’re supposed to not throw up on the floor, make it easier on the people you share a bathroom with and make them a pretty, witty sign that explains your foolhardiness.

5) When you’re lying in bed cursing the day you decided to be a disciplined pray-er and eat-er and wondering if you will ever be able to enjoy good food that does not taste like dirt and natural things again, get a head start on finals studying. Do not watch movies to dull the pain.

6) When you do decide to start studying for finals, don’t waste thirty minutes of your precious time making all of your study guides look like Kate Spade herself could have designed them. You’re only going to use them once. Does it really matter what the Kate Spade Font is?? (A form of Bakerville, if you’re curious)

7) If you do decide to do all of these stupid things, do yourself a favor and go on a friend date to numb the pain of your stupidity. The girls you go with and your date will make you feel a lot better about yourself and your diminishing state of mental capabilities.

Lucky, lucky you! Not only do you have the privilege of benefitting from my utter smartness and common sense (triple ha), you also get a weekend recap and an excuse for lack of Monday post all in one! It actually wasn’t that bad (at points)—the game at Calvin was so exciting and the Melby family was as sweet as could be and my friends were hilarious and friend date was very fun. But the sickness and the studying and the fact that I may never be able to eat like I used to ever again was a little ironic/saddening. Oh, well. Can’t think about this now, there’s studying to do! Finals are a week from today!

Happy Tuesday!

PS I’m loving Amanda Jane Jones’ awesome party in a box today. I could use one of those right about now!

Today was great.

For the first time in what seems like ages I finally finished all my work. All of it! This would probably mean more to you if you knew all that was on my plate, but take my word for it. It was a lot. I worked this morning, had a great lunch with two good friends, wrote an entire paper (about cities in children’s literature! Classic), walloped people in Words With Friends, ran to Jewel, watched Tangled, got a fantastic babysitting job for friends tomorrow, found a driver for the ministry I oversee at school, answered emails…it doesn’t seem like much, but it was perfect. It’s the little things, you know?

And I found Sasha Prood’s beautiful portfolio! I’m kind of sorta really obsessed with watercolors, and these are great. Wow. Scroll through, okay? I’ll take a print or two and charge it please (I wrote about Eloise today, alright? Cut me some slack)

Oh, Thursdays. You’re the absolute best.

Yes.

Oh, hello!

I apologize from the deepest corner of my heart for being bad blogger Kate the last few days (I have a lot of identities and that is one of my not so attractive ones. Usually I am fun and cute and a joy to be around {or so I’m told}…except for when I’m not. I am also very logical, apparently). I have a legitimate excuse: my roommate and her boyfriend broke up. So now I can add the identity of consoler to my repertoire.

Basically, what this consists of is being a very good listener, eating lots of ice cream (and then working out like crazy when she’s asleep to ensure that you’re not gaining any breakup weight), making Target runs, explaining the situation to questioning friends about 235.58810 times, latching on to whatever it is at the moment that makes her laugh (however weird that might be…cough Pocahontas) and rolling with it, and some heartbreak on your half. Because it’s not easy for me to see anyone in pain. Especially my best friend.

These last couple of days have actually made me pretty happy that I’m single right now. Because my roommate is beautiful and awesome and brave and strong and also has this uncanny ability to cry and look alluring and attractive and dangsexy all at once. When I cry? It’s kind of like a whale got beached and is bellowing for someone to lower it back into the water with a rather obnoxious foghorn going off in the distance. Also, composure is not my strong suit. Or emotions on the negative side of the scale. So basically, it’s a very good thing that I am on the consoling side right now, and I’m really glad I don’t have a guy to worry about right now. So there’s a silver lining for you.

Another silver lining is Roach Clip Art! Because as I have been sitting in this room being a good consoler, I have been scouring the internet for blog fodder, and stumbled upon this baby. Color and typography and graphics and green! Favorites all combined. Go get inspired, run along!

Hope your days have been great. Sweet dreams, friends!