studio machine

Return to Grist Mill Cabin

2011-11-29T20:39:00.000-04:00

Joan asked us to photograph the Cabin, and our long weekend was the perfect second honeymoon getaway. Located in Quicksburg, Viriginia, we were thrilled to return to the charming, rentable retreat. Joan had made some lovely renovations to the roof, bathroom, and sleeping area, and it was easy to photograph the home's eclectic beauty. In addition to relaxing, we enjoyed more local venues including Cave Ridge Winery, Paugh's Orchard, and the Harrisonburg Farmers' Market. If you would like to make a trip to the Luray/Shenandoah area, we'd be happy to refer you to more info on Grist Mill Cabin!

Prewedding Delights

2011-11-15T23:32:00.002-04:00

We celebrated our Wedding Day on 9.10.11. Before the big event, GA, her mother and her bridesmaids enjoyed an afternoon of girly pampering in a salon in downtown Herndon, VA - our hometown! Here are photos by the fabulous Allie Carroll Photography.

Trick or Treat for Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation

2011-10-31T18:59:00.000-04:00

Many dogs and cats are homeless this Halloween (and without costumes). Pirate Chelsea, our sweet rescue, is helping us trick or treat for Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. Please consider donating today at www.lostdogrescue.org/trickortreat

Celebrate Love: Our Wedding Invitations

2011-10-12T17:00:00.002-04:00

GA designed these invitations with love. The poster style layout is bright, fun, and energetic - without any of the typical wedding-style restrictions! GA+E selected a variety of handmade papers from Paper Source with which to hand-line the envelopes. It was a fun project for us to do together. A shimmery paper for the cards and envelopes dressed up the design. Stay tuned for our wedding photos!

Just Married!

2011-09-11T22:07:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we promised to love each other forever...

Polaroid Show Opening Nite Photos

2011-04-18T23:26:00.000-04:00

The Polaroid Retrospective II was THE place to be on opening nite, April 9th. We are proud to be featured artists in the show! We were impressed by how each artist had their own unique subject themes and individual styles with which they displayed their instant film photography. The exhibit will be on display at Lamont Bishop Gallery in DC until the end of April. Thank you to our friends and family who made it out for the big nite! More photos of the show can be seen here.

We're in a Gallery Show!

2011-03-29T22:03:00.003-04:00

We are pleased to announce that our joint experiments with Polaroid photography will be featured in a DC gallery show next month! 'The Polaroid Retrospective is an ongoing exhibit dedicated to the world of Polaroid and instant film photography that utilizes both traditional and non-traditional gallery spaces. All images used in the exhibits were taken with retro instant-film cameras of different styles.' Sponsors include The Impossible Project and The Pink Line Project. Opening Nite for Exposed: The Polaroid Retrospective II is April 9 at 7 pm at Lamont Bishop Gallery. The show will run for a month after. We are so excited! Tonite we are working on finalizing the framing of our Polaroids...

Our Future Pet

2011-03-24T21:42:00.002-04:00

We're #35925 in line for a baby Petite Giraffe from Russia!
"Petite Lap Giraffes are very funny animal that require special care. They need lots of love. Hugs and kisses every day. Otherwise they make tears."
More about Petite Giraffes here!

Developed some film...

2011-03-24T00:47:00.001-04:00

Eric just developed some film from his 1970s Nikkormat EL. Here are some favorites, taken during our visits to Hong Kong and Macau last October.

The Paper Bride

2011-03-20T23:46:00.000-04:00

As a print designer, it is rough going to Barnes and Noble only to be disappointed by the ugly, dated collection of wedding planning books. But today, I lucked out and found this diamond in the rough - The Paper Bride. Written by Esther K. Smith, this book is a mecca for DIY wedding paper creations. Esther includes simple diagrams and sensible recommendations - perfect for a bride trying to keep her sanity! She is also the author of How to Make Books and owns the letterpress company, Purgatory Press. She has been called the best invitation designer in New York. "All brides go insane - in a positive way." - Esther K.

Happy Trails

2011-02-22T21:57:00.001-04:00

We rode horses at Fort Valley Ranch. The ranch offers ample cabins, camping, trail rides that will clear your head, and real hot cocoa by the campfire.

Grist Mill Cabin

2011-02-16T22:28:00.001-04:00

We stayed two nites at Grist Mill Cabin for our weekend getaway. A friend recommended allstarrentals.com, and this place promised to be charming and historic. Built next to a mill, General Custer actually burned down most of its original structure during the Civil War! We were in awe of the photogenic charm and character of the cabin. Also, the owner greeted us with fresh milk, eggs, butter, and local sausage and ground coffee! Located in Quicksburg, VA, it was the perfect atmosphere in which to relax and rejuvenate.

....And this is how we'll be, 50 years from now. :)

A Valentine's Getaway

2011-02-14T20:58:00.003-04:00

We spent an adventurous yet rejuvenating weekend in the Shenandoah Mountains. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the glorious Luray Caverns. So much natural, photogenic beauty! At every turn, a photographer can shoot stunning abstracted textures and sculptures. Everyone should visit this natural wonder. We'll be featuring a few more photo sets from our trip, so check back soon! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours.

Red Hot Valentine Snowflakes

2011-02-10T00:45:00.000-04:00

Red paper + Heart Cutouts = Instant Hot Valentine's Day Decor!

Portrait of GA

2011-02-04T01:50:00.002-04:00

A winter wonderland...right outside our front door

2011-02-04T01:47:00.000-04:00

"The OTHER Kind of Socialist"

2011-02-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

We are admiring this winning Jack Daniels campaign by Yee Haw Letterpress!

Home Sweet Home

2011-01-30T00:24:00.001-04:00

Our new home is sweet... and the kitchen even comes with a chef! The plaza we live in is a planned community built in the 60s and we love its retro charm.

Power Posters

2010-12-29T18:01:00.000-04:00

Found on GOOD: Each morning since early September, Jonny Selman has picked a headline published on the BBC and has interpreted it as a poster. Selman's project BBCx365 now includes an incredible 106 headlines-as-posters, all of which he created in the wee hours of the morning, before he moved onto his work as a student at the Academy of Art University. "By creating posters based on the news stories, I hope to compel my audience to look into the article and eventually stir a larger interest in world news with the American public."

NASA Snowflake-Making Contest

2010-12-22T00:28:00.000-04:00

In case it wasn't already clear how COOL it is to make paper snowflakes - NASA's holding a contest! Deadline is extended through Dec. 22... We think this is fantastic, but then again, we also think staying up until 3:17 am to watch a lunar eclipse is fantastic. :)

We ELFED ourselves!

2010-12-21T19:43:00.003-04:00

lots of giggles here - merry christmas!

Olly Moss's Star Wars Posters

2010-12-21T19:35:00.001-04:00

Olly Moss just gained a lot more sci-fi fans. We featured him in a recent Design Spotlight and now he is making headlines on sites everywhere with his gorgeous Star Wars collectible print series. Yesterday, 400 sets of the 3 icon posters sold out in a matter of minutes at $50 dollars apiece, $150 for the set. Now they are going for upwards of $1000 on ebay. Moss announced on his blog today that he will sell the remaining 50 sets tomorrow - for a lucky few that can afford them at $500. We find them to be a perfect marriage of Eric's sci-fi nerdiness and GA's love of print design, and we wish we could snag a set. At least we can say we discovered him before the Star Wars fanatics!

We can't afford the $500 price tag, but Eric promptly purchased GA a different Olly Moss print for Christmas. It is called "Sea Saw." We find it quite clever!

Handmade Holiday in Richmond

2010-12-11T11:33:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow we are making the trip to Richmond for the Handmade Holiday craft show at Plant Zero. Check out their site and - if you're in the area - stop in to support the Craft Mafia!

Paper Snowflakes

2010-12-10T00:08:00.002-04:00

We picked out our first tree together last nite. It sits sweetly (and patriotically) in our new apartment window. We loved decorating it in blue and red. Nothing beats the joy of making homemade holiday decor - like paper snowflakes!

Should we buy this couch?

2010-11-25T02:28:00.001-04:00

For $349? I suppose we could go bigger, but it is just for the two of us.. Must decide by 6 am Black Friday - your vote appreciated!

A View from The Peak: Honk Kong

2010-11-20T23:15:00.000-04:00

To many passengers, the 120 year old Peak Tram is the only way to experience Hong Kong's most natural wonders. Millions of people all over the globe have taken the ride, which offers a uniquely fabulous view of the city. The top of the Peak offers restaurants, shopping, and the priciest real estate in Hong Kong. One evening, we enjoyed the spectacular views from the observation deck at sunset - a truly memorable evening.

Movin on UP

2010-11-18T22:53:00.000-04:00

We are moving in less than two weeks! Not too far from where we are, but it is definitely a more convenient city for our jobs. The apartment complex is designed after an italian community, and its beautiful historic features are conserved and complimented with a fully renovated kitchen. We are excited, but we need almost every piece of furniture imaginable! ... specifically a couch. Over the weekend, we went to IKEA, which has many satisfying couch options. We could not commit to a seating decision just yet - but we fell in love (or GA fell in love) with several pieces of holiday decor! Very.... American-inspired!

Shenandoah mountains in november

2010-11-14T22:08:00.001-04:00

On Saturday morning, we took a drive to Shenandoah National Park to enjoy the last of the fall foliage. The air was fresh and crisp, and fiery orange trees dotted the mountains. We topped off our road trip with some hot cider at the top of the mountain. Need fresh air? A mere $15 gets you a 7 day pass in the park.

If you LOVE Polaroids....

2010-11-12T10:27:00.003-04:00

Check out this gallery of "Super Awesome" graphic polaroids by Grant Hamilton!

Design Spotlight: Olly Moss

2010-11-10T19:44:00.000-04:00

If ever I had an instant design crush, it would be on the style of British designer Olly Moss. His silk-screened posters keep a vintage appeal, but are a fresh take on films, tv shows, and even video games of past decades. Typography and imagery are delightfully center-stage in Moss' work, and his featured characters will (hopefully) make you feel nostalgic. Here are some stellar samples found on his website, as well as a feature by Communication Arts. Check him out.

Hong Kong: Vibrant History

2010-11-09T23:57:00.002-04:00

We just enjoyed a long vacation on the other side of the world - visiting Eric's brother and family in Hong Kong! The city is extremely photogenic, and its architecture is a stark contrast of old and new.
The temples in Hong Kong are rich in preserved quality and history. On the first full day of our trip, we visited a temple and a convent. The Temple of Wong Tai Sin, the Daoist God of Healing, was vibrant in color. The wooden buildings at the Chi Lin Nunnery were constructed without nails, and some are over 1,000 years old.

Ruffled Blog

2010-10-07T21:07:00.002-04:00

My new guilty pleasure is ruffledblog.com. I visit the blog daily to peruse shots of beautiful, DIY, vintage style weddings - very inspiring for a bride-to-be with so much to plan. The details are thoughtful, and the couples are intimately photographed. Here are some photos from the site:

If you have a favorite DIY blog or wedding blog, do share!

Homemade Fall Chili

2010-10-05T19:43:00.003-04:00

On a chilly evenings like tonite, GA enjoys making chili. It is a fun dish because we can be experimental with the ingredients! Here is tonite's lineup (we hope it makes you hungry):
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can goya red beans
• fresh diced tomatoes
• 1/4 diced onion and 1 red pepper
• chili powder and crushed red pepper
• 1 jalepeno pepper
• mexican spices from eric's mom (secret)
• voodoo juice (hot sauce from Renn Fest)

Renn Fest First-Timers

2010-09-26T22:48:00.000-04:00

We went to our first Renaissance Festival over the weekend! We met up with our more "experienced" renn friends, Katie and Derek, for a very merry tyme. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is located in a wooded area near Annapolis. We wandered about watching jousting, eating turkey legs, and throwing knives, stars and axes. GA almost took out Eric when her axe throw went awry - it bounced off a wooden poll and backwards into the crowd, which Eric blocked with his camera lens! whew. It was a hot day with a very costumed crowd, many of whom were dress for Pirate Weekend. We even caught up with Jack Sparrow! HUZZAH

Fabulous Audrey Hepburn Original Movie Posters

2010-09-14T23:38:00.000-04:00

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." — Audrey Hepburn

Movie Posters: they sure don't make 'em like they used to.

elements of an epic camping weekend

2010-09-11T00:38:00.000-04:00

Tents + grilling + cameras + man-made archery + a foster dog named Ham + great friends = our campin' essentials for Lake Anna Park

A Peachy Wedding Day

2010-08-31T19:33:00.000-04:00

GA's dear old friend, Ashley, was married in Portsmouth, VA over the weekend. Her beautiful wedding included a 3-tier wedding cake she made herself - complete with fresh peaches and applying the fondant the morning of, and sentimental DIY decorations at the reception. She scouted her ceremony site at a park, and her dress was a consignment shop treasure with her own original touches (the lace-up in back). Peach rose bouquets made by her cousin and fuzzy navel drinks complimented her radiant red hair. GA was a busy bridesmaid and Eric was the photographer. It was a jam-packed, joyful day.

The Proposal

2010-08-19T22:21:00.002-04:00

So maybe the ring wasn't a surprise, since we picked it out together... But Eric adamantly wanted to plan a secret proposal outing. He prepared a gourmet picnic of seared tuna salads with mango salsa, several cheeses and strawberries and sparkling blood orange juice. He drove us into the countryside, and I was delighted when I realized he was driving to Shenandoah National Park. He had mapped out an overlook with a beautiful sunset view. Even thought it was an overcast afternoon, we saw glimpses of burning pinks behind the mountains.
With the help of another photography friend he had created an awesome painting with light video which he played for me on his laptop. The lights spelled out "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" with lots of adorable dancing heart shapes. While I was watching it, he realized the ring had fallen out somewhere along the path! He told me later he ran and luckily grabbed it out of the grass without my noticing, and held the ring out to me at the end of the video. He spoke words that were so simple and filled with love. The were very happy and giddy, and we took way too many photos after that. It was a beautiful afternoon. I am so blessed to have such a romantic, genuine fiance.
Here are some shots from the day using Eric's Nikkormat EL with 35mm film! -GA

GOCCO-RAMA

2010-08-13T22:44:00.003-04:00

We're getting a Gocco Printer! GA helped a friend design her wedding invitations, and now she is giving us the printer! We are so excited. Gocco is becoming a precious rarity like original polaroids. We've blogged about our love and appreciation of letterpress, and now we'll be able to screen-print on our dining room table. We look forward to making our own unique holiday cards and invitations.
Here are a few sweet gocco prints found on etsy:
1. twoguitars
2. artsharkdesigns
3. MisNopalesArt
4. katep
5. edisonrex

The Ring

2010-08-03T22:28:00.001-04:00

We found The Ring on etsy. It is an original by natashakahndesigns. The 1.7 carat rose-cut diamond is a charcoal gray color! We love how it changes from silver to dark in different lighting, as well as how the clean, modern setting contrasts with the elegant vintage-cut stone. The ring is recycled white gold; we did our research to find a ring that is both eco-friendly and conflict-free.

We're Engaged!

2010-08-02T23:26:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share.... on the top of a mountain... Eric popped the question! GA said YES of course :)

Farmers Market: Delicious Colors

2010-07-24T15:11:00.001-04:00

We enjoyed a sunny Saturday morning perusing the Reston Farmers Market. Our first experience to this seasonal market was delightful. Fresh fruit and vegetables were plentiful, as were fresh meats and kettle corn. So many colors! We enjoyed goat cheese, salsa, and olive oil tastings and live bluegrass courtesy of the band, Gallows Road. The market, held weekly at Lake Anne Shopping Center, also had many craft, art, and jewelry vendors. Truly a local gem. We will be back!

Rings on Etsy

2010-07-20T12:33:00.000-04:00

We love browsing etsy. Inspired by oh hello friend's blog, we wanted to share some of our favorite ring designs. These designs are sweet, handmade, and eco-friendly alternatives to the typical diamond engagement ring. (You will notice GA has a thing for flowers and rough cut diamonds!)

The designers:
1. PatrickIrlaJewelry
2. dadamietz
3. wexfordjewelers
4. miavanbeek
5. onestonenewyork
6. jennykim

Design Spotlight: Josef Frank!

2010-07-15T23:20:00.001-04:00

Another inspiring main page image on Google today! Joseph Frank, born 125 years ago in Austria, designed textiles and furniture that still brightens homes all over the world today. His work is described as "always in motion, bringing life to a room." Looks like sitting on a party!!

Saturday is the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market

2010-07-08T23:46:00.001-04:00

If you find yourself in the DC/Northern Virginia Area this Saturday, DO take a stroll around the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market! You'll get a chance to take home one of these Grumpy Haters:

Happy Birthday Frida!

2010-07-06T18:47:00.001-04:00

"I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality." - Frida Kahlo

Today google honors the 103 birthday of Frida Kahlo with their main page illustration. Arguably never has their been a more honest female artist than Frida, who painted her intimate experiences with love, loss, drug addiction, bisexuality, chronic pain, and more of the misfortunes in her life. Her self-portraits are brilliantly expressive with passion and pain. We cherish her impact on the art world.

A June Wedding

2010-07-05T21:19:00.002-04:00

On a sunny June afternoon, Eric photographed the wedding of our good friends, Tori and Bing. We have known Tori since high school, and he couple met when Tori was attending school in Beijing, and now - lucky for us - they are our neighbors in Virginia. They are a fun and beautiful couple. We enjoyed their special day in Eleanor C. Roosevelt Park in Centreville, VA and want to share some of the photos. GA also worked on a redesign of Eric's Photography website, which you can check out here!

Gypsy Kings at Wolf Trap

2010-07-03T14:32:00.001-04:00

We love spanish guitar music! We packed a beautiful picnic basket and went to see Gypsy Kings at Wolf Trap for Eric's birthday. Crowds were dancing in the isles! We were happy to make use of our salsa dance lessons. It was a lively, high-energy evening and we had so much fun. Oh - and GA made Eric lemon-chocolate cupcakes!

Elements of an Asian-Theme Dinner

2010-07-01T20:17:00.000-04:00

Gifts from Hong Kong - and groceries from Trader Joe's - inspired our asian stir-fry dinner party. We don't actually have photos from after the guests' arrival... we were having too much fun!

Friendly Portraits

2010-06-27T21:00:00.001-04:00

Portraits of some dear friends of ours:

Here is the photo GA is submitting for her new company's directory:

Underwater Photo Shoot

2010-06-19T19:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a collection of behind-the-scenes shots and finished images from a photo shoot Eric produced in 2008. The shoot took place in the deep end of a community pool.

Underwater Fashion Photography

2010-06-14T22:20:00.000-04:00

Recently, we have been given opportunities to advance our careers simultaneously, which has kept us very busy! Eric is 6 weeks into his new full-time job, and GA left her former design position to start a fantastic new senior design position at another company. Business has also been good with freelancing and photo shoots. A sign of an improving economy we hope!

Eric combines his talents as a certified technical diver and experiences with underwater archeology to specialize in underwater fashion photography. This week on Studio Machine, he will share behind-the-scenes imagery from underwater shoots. This dazzling magazine cover image, by Zena Holloway, inspired his interest in shooting underwater fashion. Holloway shoots models in a specialized all-black tank at her London studio, adding the colorful effects with Photoshop. We love her use of lighting and the shapeliness of her models' poses.

A Lite-Brite Nite

2010-06-08T00:51:00.002-04:00

We continue our walkabout of the Herndon Festival. There is something magical about an amusement park at nite. We watched the rides come alive with bright lights and colors.

View from the Ferris Wheel

2010-06-05T22:04:00.001-04:00

The Herndon Festival is our hometown's big annual event: five days filled with live music, crafts, fireworks, and rides. We were really looking forward to a ferris wheel ride at sunset, and Eric brought his camera to capture the view.

Design Spotlight: Iconic War Posters and Heroes

2010-06-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

We are thinking of our U.S. troops today and every day. Eric's family has served our country for many generations, and we are proud of his best friend, Shawn, who is currently serving overseas. Today we thank them all. Here is a collection of iconic poster art recognizing the heroes of today and yesterday.

Our Letterpress Prints

2010-05-30T23:34:00.001-04:00

A Patriotic Bouquet

2010-05-30T10:06:00.002-04:00

We found this delightful Memorial Day rose plant at Trader Joe's. This can easily be recreated as a fun centerpiece. We hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend!

A Delicious Brunch

2010-05-28T10:55:00.004-04:00

For our Letterpress Workshop lunch break, Stuart suggested that we eat at Evening Star Cafe, a gem that sits on a cute block of neighborhood restaurants and shops like an oasis in Alexandria suburbia. We snagged the boxed window booth and indulged in dirty bloody marys and the cafe's popular mimosas. We both ordered from the brunch menu - I had the most amazing lemon-buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote (seriously, I have never eaten pancakes with lemon - incredible!). Eric captured the plate of beauty here:

Eric enjoyed his gravy biscuits smathered with eggs on top! A pile of deliciousness. We are huge breakfast fans. Evening Star was a real treat; though I must add that no one can top homemade breakfast burritos with Sriracha hot chili sauce made by this wonderful man!

What is your favorite brunch food and do you have a special recipe to share?

Design Spotlight: Carry Hope Tote Bags

2010-05-26T16:26:00.002-04:00

In the market for a new tote? Print Magazine invited 12 of their favorite designers to submit tote designs to be sold in support of their chosen charities. All 13 limited edition designs are available at MyDesignShop.com, and more can be purchased at partofit.org. The 1-2 color designs are simple but strong in their use of type and image. I wanted to share a few of my favorites here:
Design by Daniel Eatock for the International Dyslexia Association

Winning Design by Stardust for British Heart Association

Design by James Joyce for Save the Children UK

Design by Laurent Fetis for World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)

Design by Büro Destruct for Greenpeace

Also, check out this month's PRINT cover, designed by design superstar, Milton Glaser! Yes, he is The Man who designed the iconic I heart NY graphic!

playing with blocks

2010-05-24T23:32:00.002-04:00

Here are more photos of woodblock letters from our letterpress workshop!

Letterpress Workshop in Alexandria

2010-05-23T15:50:00.001-04:00

We had an awesome experience at a letterpress workshop this weekend. We had reserved a full-day class with Stuart Bradley of Railway Station Press in Alexandria, VA. We spent the day learning the basics of letterpress using the Chandler and Price tabletop press in Stuart's home studio. The beginner class covered terminology, the process, maintenance and materials.
We went with an emerald green ink for our prints. With the large selection of type and ornaments, Eric printed stationary for his photography business using metal type, and GA used wood blocks to create a typographical poster. Eric used a vintage 1930's camera ornament on his stationary. The wood block letters that GA selected would normally be printed on a larger format press, but we wanted to experiment! They required extra ink, so we added a bright red to the mix.
Stuart also shared valuable resources that will help us when we purchase our own letterpress. Since we normally work in the digital realm, we enjoyed the tactile sensation of this hands-on process. We highly recommend this workshop to anyone who is curious about letterpress and who would like a day of creative learning.

We'd love to hear about your letterpress experiences too!

Design Spotlight: Sculptor Michael Jones McKean

2010-05-18T10:20:00.001-04:00

Michael Jones McKean just won a Guggeinheim Fellowship. This is especially exciting to me because he is a sculpture professor at my alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University. According to richmond.com, "His work goes from the monumental - such as using 2,000 pounds of clay in one sculpture - to the ephemeral. His latest project, "The Public Rainbow Project," seeks to create rainbows over public buildings. He already started by creating a rainbow over his studio on Mulberry Street" in Richmond, VA.
"A recent installation includes a ghostly re-constructed riverboat that gives the illusion of being 100-feet long. The same installation, entitled "Riverboat Lovesongs for the Ghost Whale Regatta" includes an 800 gallon acrylic water tank, a 10 horsepower three phase special effects fan, a 1986 Super Jumbo boom box and a Hall and Oates soundtrack." Check out some images from MJM's Riverboat installation. The final image, a photo of his studio, illustrates his Public Rainbow Project.

Volunteering at the Virginia Fine Arts Festival

2010-05-15T19:53:00.004-04:00

The 2010 Virginia Fine Arts Festival, produced by GRACE, is being held this weekend at Reston Town Center. This morning, GA+ E and some of GA's work colleagues joined the fun in the children's tent. There were four kinds of crafts, including a Calder-inspired mobile-making station and a magnet-moving paint station! For a fun and rewarding experience, we recommend seeking out volunteer opportunities with your local art organizations. If you have one that you love, we'd be happy to feature it on our site!

Our vote for Best in Show goes to Jenny Pope, an eco-conscious printer whose woodcarvings of endangered and invasive species are both bright and thoughtful.

Vintage Portraits from Mother's Day Sailing

2010-05-12T21:17:00.002-04:00

GA+E went sailing with GA's parents for mother's day - our first sail of the year. It was incredibly windy: up to 30 knots! We were the only sailboat out on the bay that afternoon...

happy mother's day!

2010-05-09T00:51:00.000-04:00

To our lovely moms, to all moms, and to mommies-to-be.... we hope you enjoy your special day!

sweet print by L2 Design Collective.

Design Spotlight: Shepard Fairey + Obey Giant

2010-05-07T12:21:00.002-04:00

At some point today, this limited edition screen print of Debbie Harry will be available to the public here.

Original photo by Bobby Grossman. 450 prints will be available at $70 apiece and I'll fight you for one. She is oh-so-beautiful! And so is the impactful style of Shepard Fairey. You must know him for his power-packed Obama Campaign poster designs. Did you know his is also the creator of the OBEY GIANT tagging movement? What started as a social experiment is now a cult following. He is a modern-day design legend. This is not the last you will hear of Shepard Fairey on this blog; I do adore him.

Old Wooden Buildings

2010-05-05T23:33:00.002-04:00

On a drive through the country, we found ourselves in The Plains, VA. We discovered Piedmont Vineyards, located on a pre-Revolutionary estate near Middleburg. The property's manor house is a Virginia Historic Landmark - built in 1755, restored as a dairy farm in 1942, until it was finally tranformed into a winery in the 1970s. We enjoyed a uniquely refreshing lemon + orange sangria at the winery. Eric had the opportunity to take some striking images of the old buildings on the property using a photographic process known as High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. Of course with the last 2 photographs, there was no special technique required to make GA look beautiful...she does that all on her own. We would like to share these photos with you and get your feedback about them:

Design Spotlight: Street Art

2010-05-03T13:57:00.004-04:00

My favorite idea site, good.is, features an article about how street cleaners in Melbourne unknowingly painted over a Banksy Rat stencil while cleaning up grafitti nearby. This raises the question, 'Should there be more methods to preserve street art?' I say the government and communities need to first show more support of public art. This medium has the potential to inspire and beautify neighborhoods that are otherwise dismal. I believe it is a general understanding for street artists that their work may be temporary, which can be part of the attraction. Here is the now-removed Banksy Rat stencil, and a few more street art images courtesy of good.is and Wooster Collective blog.

Here are a couple images contributed by my friend Mark in BERLIN! :)

HOT or NOT? Safari Couch

2010-05-03T01:01:00.006-04:00

I would love your opinion: usually I'm more thrift shop than yard sale, but our neighbors were selling this snazzy couch and I had really been wanting one for the balcony. It comes with a matching chair and, with some haggling, I snagged the pair for $20! As you can see, there is some jungle print action going on here. At first I thought I'd like to make some lovely slipcovers to hide the gaudiness, but the elephant parade started to grow on me... What do you think of this safari party - totally rad or totally hideous? Be honest.

Diving at the Aquarium

2010-05-02T11:19:00.001-04:00

When he isn't doing photo shoots, Eric volunteers as a diver at the Baltimore Aquarium. This gets me the behind-the-scenes hookup to see him in action with the sting rays, schools of fish, and Calypso - the turtle with one missing fin.

Eric said I also had a free pass to the dolphin show, but I wasn't interested, as I am an advocate against dolphins in captivity. You'll never catch me at Sea World! When you have time, please check out The Cove. Ric O'Barry, the original dolphin trainer for Flipper, heads this year's Oscar-winning documentary film following a team of activists, filmmakers, and freedivers as they embark on a covert mission to Taiji, Japan to uncover secret mass dolphin killings. If you would like to get involved with stopping such horrible murders, the first step is creating awareness to the public.

Design Spotlight: PRINT Magazine's Top 20 Under 30

2010-04-30T14:31:00.001-04:00

PRINT's New Visual Artists Issue features their favorite designers/illustrators/photographers under age 30. You can see the full list here.

Discoveries in Fells Point, Baltimore

2010-04-29T21:27:00.002-04:00

If you find yourself in Baltimore, MD, be sure to check out the waterfront area of Fells Point. Small-town charm in the middle of a big city! Here are some photos from our day of exploring...

We recommend:

BOP Brick Oven Pizza for the best loaded pizza and Ms. Pac Man

Ze Mean Bean Cafe for wine tastings, coffee and fancy Eastern European fare

Woody's Rum Bar and Island Grill for reggae jams, a heavy dose of tropical flavored drinks, and a great view of the harbor

Max's Taphouse for their huge selection of over 100 beers on tap

We'd love it if you add to our list! We'll be back :)

Design Spotlight: Toy Soldier Typeface by Oliver Munday

2010-04-28T11:04:00.002-04:00

Featured on PRINT, Oliver Munday created a typeface out of plastic soldiers that he strategically set on fire and melted, producing an alphabetical army of the wounded and maimed. The result is playfully morbid, ain't it?

Expired BLUE Polaroids

2010-04-27T22:33:00.004-04:00

We never know what to expect when we use expired polaroid film. Often we get warm, subdued tones - very retro! Imagine our surprise when the shots from our trip to Willowcroft Vineyards came out blue! And the TZ Artistic continues to change color over time to the point where we see splotches.

Compare those to these warm tones we typically see when shooting with expired Polaroid 779 film that we poached from an optometrist office in Herndon.

This film has a life of its own and continues to color shift. We have noticed the once blue/green hues turning into an almost burnt orange/magenta color in some of the highlight areas on the photos....very strange....but cool.

Design Spotlight: Janine Rewell

2010-04-27T14:54:00.005-04:00

Suntan design created with tanning booth and vinyl stickers, 2008. Twenty-three year old Janine Rewell from Helsinki is featured in this month's issue of PRINT. In her interview, she observes: "For Americans, everything has to be written down. You have to be really clear about the concepts. For other countries, you don't have to explain so much."
Rewell bring up an interesting point; a frustration that I have with many of my clients. The need to be wordy, literal, politically correct, obvious - often hinders the creative process and, as a result, the quality of the finished piece. The U.S. tends not to be as conceptual as say, Europe, when it comes to design. We can gain so much by adopting their simplistic, provocative styles. In order to encourage conceptual progress in America, it is necessary for designers to risk rejection by continuing to present their clients with original ideas. If we stop, the artistic inventiveness of visual communications will fade.
Please share your comments! You can view the rest of Janine's article here. And if I ever use a tanning booth again, THAT is how I want to look when I walk out.

dc meanderings

2010-04-25T23:57:00.003-04:00

What started as a visit to the Smithsonian Craft Show became a day of impromptu wandering and cultural finds. Start to finish: We began at the National Building Museum with our friends, Lauren and Corey...

We had our first Chinatown (more like ChinaBLOCK) lunch at Chinatown Express, where they hand make their noodles and dumplings in the window! It was recommended to us by Lawrence, Eric's photog friend (and eating buddy!) and it was delicious. Thanks Lawrence!

Then we found THIS dude on Constitution Ave.......

Who IS he? If you've seen him around town, please let us know. Eric has also seen him on K street by the Georgetown Waterfront. We like him!

Also said Hello to this guy. What a HOOT!

Eric enjoyed this hydrogen fuel cell car in the Earth Day tent

At the Hirshorn, we found andy warhol and marilyn's lips

and sculptures

We went to the Air and Space Museum in search of the illustrious Astronaut Ice Cream. Eric was thrilled to see the Spaceship One aircraft - the first commercial space craft to be launched into space, and then relaunched two weeks later. Seats are available through Virgin Galactic, but hurry - they are booked until 2011!

Our day concluded with a metro ride. Oddly enough, it was our first metro trip together, even though we've know each other since we were 15. We really enjoyed wandering together. Sometimes it's nice to be a tourist in your own city.

letterpress week at oh, hello friend.

2010-04-25T22:10:00.004-04:00

letterpress week at oh,hello friend!
image by: slimjim
We find oh, hello friend's blog just delightful. Then we heard that her blog would be hosting Letterpress Week starting on the 26th, and were were super-impressed. We are taking a letterpress workshop in May and are infatuated with the process, so we'll be checking in all week. We hope you will too.

Smithsonian Craft Show

2010-04-25T00:01:00.005-04:00

This weekend we met our friends at the National Building Museum in DC for the oh-so-fancy Smithsonian Craft Show. Photos by Eric Kemp Photography!

The pricing demographic was slightly beyond our budgets - nevertheless, we admired and enjoyed the quality of workmanship that went into every piece. Then we went to Chinatown and enjoyed handmade dumplings! But we'll save that bliss for another post...

Spring Bada-Bing Craft Show Treasurers

2010-04-22T23:35:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, we checked out the 2010 Spring Bada-Bing craft show at Plant Zero in Richmond, VA. We want to share our sweet finds and promote the artists that we met and loved.

coral necklace by blugrn design

kid astronaut tee by popidiot

retro purse by see katie sew

green dino onesie by red prairie press

cupcake monster onesie by cutesy but not cutesy

GA is a grad of VCU's design program, so we love supporting the local art community when we're hanging out in the city. We were more than impressed by the talent at Spring Bada-Bing. If we could, we would award Maneating Flower with Best in Show. The Baltimore-based designer is the only east coast printmaker to letterpress on leather. She also takes her letterpress, Bertha, on road trips! We (shamefully) did not buy any of her pieces, but we promise that we will. Check out her booth:

Please stop by again soon - this weekend we'll be documenting the craftiest of crafty at the Smithsonian Craft Show in DC!

Design Spotlight: Happy Earth Day from Keith Haring

2010-04-22T10:59:00.001-04:00

I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it. - Keith Haring

Earth Day promotes an awareness of our environment, unifying us at a global level for this cause. In honor of today's celebrations, I'd like to celebrate an artist and designer who advocated unity of humanity: Keith Haring. Haring was an American artist who achieved immense popularity for his painting and public art in the 1980s, and whose life was cut short by AIDS. He was an advocate for social unity, sexual awareness, and his messages were delivered with an iconic flair. Thank you Keith Haring for your socially conscious contribution to the art world!

polaroid favorites + the impossible project

2010-04-20T20:40:00.017-04:00

Eric is the proud owner of five polaroid cameras, two of which we have used to document many of our adventures for over a year now. There is something special about the analog process that has been lost in the days of digital. With film you only have one chance to capture that moment in time and forever freeze it, with polaroid this process is doubly more special in that there is and will always be only polaroid image. Every single shot is unique and no two are the same...nor should they be. Some of the film we use is expired, but we like the surprises that come along with that! Here is a small collection of our favorites from the past year:

Gabriel's Swing

Chrysalis Vineyard

Drinking hot totties (Last years Christmas card photo!)

Cesme, Turkey, Summer 2009

erin taylor

richmond raft

Ghostly Feet Romance

GA+E, expired film

In the past 2 years, the world of analog photography has changed. In 2008, Polaroid officially stopped production of its film and forced all the photographers of the world to duke it out tooth and nail style on the streets for the last few packs of unexpired film. This momentous event caused an uproar in the photography community. Most people didn't realize how prevalent polaroids were in culture, media, artwork - general everyday life - until it was gone.

Then a group of scientists, investors and photographers formed a company called the Impossible Project. They set out to do what they described as the impossible, to not only bring back polaroid film, but to reinvent it. Their recently released first pack of film was greatly anticipated and has been well-received.

EPIC Train

2010-04-19T00:04:00.003-04:00

We spent another epic weekend in Richmond, this time to participate in the Old Girls Rugby Alumni festivities. On days as fine as these, it is a four-year running tradition to spend time at a secret rafting spot on the James River. Discovered and maintained by our friends, the camp is hidden by trees and railroad tracks. The above is a collection of photos of an "EPIC" train by the James River.

Say HELLO to our new doormat...

2010-04-15T00:13:00.001-04:00

Touring the Fairfax Public Access Studios

2010-04-14T23:41:00.000-04:00

Much of the general public does not know about the gem that is Fairfax Public Access. It is a nonprofit, government-funded and Cox cable-funded organization with valuable resources to creatives. The Arlington-based station has 4 studios (3 television and 1 radio) complete with sets, desks, cameras, lighting, production equipment, computers, green screens, editing software galore, and is accessible to YOU at the cost of a $26 membership fee! Studio time can be reserved, and the resulting materials can be broadcasted on channels 10, 30, or 37 for FREE! We love the idea of being able to make our own tv show (about art, photography, cooking, scuba.... hey, we're diverse!!) Apparently the boundaries are close to limitless - the stations will air anything that is in English and does not advertise a product or use profanity. We encourage anyone with a mild curiosity in tv or radio to check this place out. We had our orientation to the studios today. Here are some shots from our tour.

Design Spotlight 1: YEE HAW Industrial Letterpress

2010-04-10T12:19:00.010-04:00

It is our intention to feature creative organizations on this blog. We support stellar forms of visual communication and we hope to provoke thoughtful discussions and new ideas. Here is our first Design Spotlight, written by GA:

Yee-Haw Industrial Letterpress & Design Co. was founded in 1997 by Kevin Bradley and Julie Belcher. The two set up shop in a small barn in Corbin, Kentucky with a dream and a Vandercook Universal 3 Proofing Press. They are currently located in Tennessee and have found a successful niche with their fresh and bold letterpress prints. They specialize in "original art-like products - from letterpress posters promoting special events, music acts and theatre show to handmade, woodcut, fine art prints." The interaction of type and image on their prints has a bold and modern twist, while still keeping the traditional handmade feel.

As a print designer in a society that is increasingly web-centric, I believe that the pieces created by this company are beautiful examples of why working with paper so special and necessary. YEE HAW is at the forefront of the letterpress revival that has been growing since the 90s . I have collected a few of their cards and calendars, and I hope to purchase the DADA poster that was used to promote the 2006 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.

I am excited to share their handmade goodness with you. Check out their blog and their site on etsy, and enjoy some of their sample pieces here.

We're Going to China!

2010-04-08T21:26:00.002-04:00

We just purchased our tickets to Hong Kong! We will stay will Eric's brother and his family in October! To celebrate, here is a post about Eric's new "old" Chinese camera - a gift from his brother that he found in a Jade Market in Hong Kong. Estimated to be made between 1950 and 1954, apparently the store had an entire wall of these bad boys. Medium format, double lens reflex, and full of character, it came with a cool leather case and shoulder strap. It was made by the Pearl River Camera Company, which was a "Hong Kong company" and not actually a "China proper company" - which is a good thing!

Here is the Mountain Man with his camera, along with some of the medium format images that were developed at Penn Camera.

We used it in conjunction with the digital camera on Katie and Derek's photo shoot. This was the first roll developed since we got the camera in December. Immediately after picking up the film we were surprised with the results - sharp, nice color, and overall good quality. Eric's parents were excellent models on Easter!

The only complaint with this camera is that there is no light meter so everything has to be metered separately and that can be tedious in situations of moving shadows.....like a cherry blossom tree.

Cherry Blossom Eye Candy Adventure in DC

2010-04-06T22:08:00.005-04:00

On Easter Sunday, we shot engagement photos in DC for our friends, derek and katie. Coincidentally, the shoot coincided with the blossoming of the cherries! Edits are still being made to the 600 or so shots that were taken, but we'd like to share a few:

Cherry Blast

2010-04-05T20:31:00.004-04:00

Last Friday, we went to dc for Cherry Blast, a 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival event produced by The Pink Line Project. Not knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised to find the entire show in two stories of a large warehouse, with themed rooms of VERY abstracted concepts...

Case in Point, The Makeout Room

5 bucks to the first person to correctly guess what the entryway is...

The room had plush velvet pillows, shag carpet, a make out bench and "suggestive" murals...

An Aquatic Life Gallery shown with UV Light

As you can see in the background, there were illustrations of organisms, jellyfish, and anthropods - but I did not find them very interesting.

Eric did.

Impressive Murals - notably a pink cherry blossom-themed Samurai Warrior

A freight elevator carried visitors to the second floor, and they made sure to entertain with a ceiling installation of buttons and wire and a female duo singing 90s alt. rock!

The oddities continued with a trance tunnel, random performance artists in closets, djs and small bands in every room, a Pac-man station, bruise creation station (literally, they painted bruises on people!), and

The Marshmallow Room

YES! PEEPS GALORE!!*

*As a design professional, I realize that this pile of Peeps and glitter breaks many rules of GOOD design. However, Eric would like everyone to note that he used COMPLIMENTARY COLORS on all the wires! He was so proud of our "creation" that he insisted we take it home! It is currently on display on the dining room table.

Hay Bales

2010-03-31T23:18:00.002-04:00

In January, we took an afternoon drive through the Shenandoah foothills in search of new wineries, an activity we had missed during in the cold winter months. Eric had his Nikkormat EL that he purchased at Goodwill for 50 bucks (what a deal!). Before reaching any vineyards, we found these:

The hay bales are very photogenic, in their own odd, abstract way! Hence the inspiration for the current header. We eventually reached Doukenie and Loudon Valley Vineyards. The latter was our fave. More affordable, less commercial, and more diverse in their sweet wines! But we did enjoy the duckies at Doukenie. Very sociable!

The Book

2010-03-31T10:05:00.001-04:00

When I initially purchased The Art of Looking Sideways, by master designer Alan Fletcher, its primary use was as a doorstop. Its brick-like presence was assigned to me as required reading for a graphic design course in college. Needless to say, it didn't see much action for the first several years. It was a few years after graduating that I actually started to sift through the book, and what I found was quarkiness, randoms, and inspiration. Phaidon describes it as "An inexhaustible mine of anecdotes, quotations, curious facts, useless information, oddities, serious science, jokes and memories." It is exactly that. When I am trying to get in creative mode, this is a go-to book for me. I highly recommend it.

To us, "looking sideways" means using a new perspective to experience the everyday; on art and photography, on places yet to be discovered by us. So now you know the inspiration of the name of this blog! It is possible we are infringing on some copyright laws by quoting the title, so who knows how long it'll stick! But they can't say we didn't give em credit.

Looking Sideways

2010-03-28T23:57:00.000-04:00

Here we are. We decided we'd like to share our adventures - on the road, on film, on paper, online, underwater - in whatever shape they come. Enjoy our discoveries, and we hope you'll share your experiences too!