Weekly Inspiration

This week we've got a clean, simple solution for packaging cards.

Make sure to drop by the Suggestion post if there's something specific you'd like the blog to cover.

Packaging, originally uploaded by kitschcafe.

Submit your photos for consideration as a Weekly Inspiration by adding them to the Flickr Group.

Suggestions

No big post this week. Really sorry, yesterday was my birthday and I'm also participating in the Etsy Yart sale so I haven't been able to put together a post for today.

I'm opening up the comments for today to any and all suggestions of topics you'd like to see the blog cover. Please don't be shy.

Learning from Failure

Here's a wonderful video of a talk by Adam Savage of the Mythbusters all about the things he's learned from failure. The talk was given at Maker Faire Bay Area 2009.



Just a note, there may not be a Wednesday post this week because tomorrow is my birthday and I'm not sure if I'll have time to write anything.

Weekly Inspiration

Adorable shipping box, I know I'd be excited to receive this in the mail.

New Shipping Boxes, originally uploaded by Pretty by Pistachio.

Submit your photos for consideration as a Weekly Inspiration by adding them to the Flickr Group.

Book Review: DIY: Do It Yourself Design

DIY is an interesting introduction to design for people inexperienced with design. It's less about the details of design than a book of ideas you can implement. A few of the topics covered are business cards, books, tshirts, logos, posters and more. While it does have some how to projects and advice about design I found it more useful as a source of inspiration on things I'd like to try.

If you need a good run down of creative ways to brand your business or promote yourself this is a good book for you. If you want more in depth information on graphic design you should pick up a more focussed book.


Pros:

• Lots of ideas
• Beautiful photos to illustrate the ideas
• Covers online as well as offline design
• Very focussed on doing things yourself versus outsourcing your printing

Cons:

• Lack of depth about design principals
• Chapters are very short
• Instructions could be clearer

Link Round Up: Labels for your Fabric Creations

Here are some links for making your own fabric labels for clothing, bags, plush toys, etc.

Label Tutorials
Iron-On Transfer Labels
Printed Labels - Labels printed on special ink jet fabric
Washable Printed Labels
Embroidered Labels - Using machine embroidery *required computerized sewing machine*

Another Option
If you've had custom rubber stamps made you can use fabric inks to stamp labels.

Buying Labels
Here are a few links to Etsy sellers who offer custom fabric labels.
WorldwideLabel - Woven labels
Custom Couture Label Company Multiple styles of fabric labels
Herjodren - Washable printed labels and other print products

Silence is the Enemy

I had a post ready for today but I just read something so important that I'm postponing the regular post until tomorrow.

Sheril Kirshenbaum of the Intersection blog has started a campaign called Silence is the Enemy to bring attention to rape around the world. Along with several other bloggers, she's raising money for Doctors Without Borders to help them treat these women and children. Please go read the post and subscribe to her blog, she'll be writing more about the subject all month along with discussion of what we can do to help. There's also a facebook group you can join as well.

I've never been a victim of a sexual assault but I don't fool myself by believing it could never happen to me, I've known too many women that's it's happened to. I can't imagine what these victims, many of them children under 12 years old, must go through and I want to do what I can to help.