a palette of { soothing } patterns

As a graphic/surface designer I can't help but be inspired by and be a great admirer of Florence Broadhurst. After a very long day with my head in web code yesterday, her patterns are visually soothing and even relaxing; yes, even with such elaborative and decorative motifs.

This is a visual + sparkle of some of my favorite designs from her vast portfolio.

{ Images Via :: Walnut Paper }

el monero

Last week I shared with you the adorable Parodiakis. Well, since I posted about them I received a comment from the designer himself, Arturo Torres, and I had the opportunity of viewing a sample of the rest of his portfolio.

I came across yet more cuteness with his what I call '-itos' (when adding 'ito' or 'ita' to a spanish word it makes it a diminutive), such as the 'perrito' (puppy), 'gatito' (kitten), 'ratoncito' (mouse). I was instantly drawn to this 'conejita' with her sparkly eyes.

I love the simple lines and details in the illustrations.

This 'ratoncito' is another of my favorites.

Here's a patch-eyed 'perrito'. Adorable!

And my last of the favorites...'el conejito'.

Make sure to check out the rest of 'El Monero's' portfolio, filled with other great animations, illustrations, and logo designs.

{ Images Via :: El Monero }

a lizzyb loves {website} facelift

It's almost done! I spent all last week working on it and I'm going live in one week; just enough time for last minute final touches.

To keep you wanting more, and to make sure you come back and check the new site out, :)p, here's a sneak peek at some of the pages. I'm revamping the logo as well, as inspired by these previously posted about samples, but I've still to change it out on the homepage. All rotating images are of some of my favorite textures I've photographed around my city and throughout my travels.

This will mostly be a portfolio site with online shopping hopefully coming soon. I've divided my portfolio up into three sections for now (housewares to come later): Patterns, Stationery, and Invitations. There are a lot of colorful samples of all!

A sneak peek into my travel-inspired surface pattern designs. You can't wait to see more, huh?! :)

Stay tuned for next week.

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }

happy weekend

I leave you this Friday afternoon with this cool 'designed' Picasso quote. Gotta love it! Happy Weekend.

{ Image Via :: FFFFound }

vosges haut-chocolat

Just in time for Spring Break and Easter Sunday next week, I give you a little glimpse at one of the best Chocolatiers in the US, Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

I first came across Vosges Haut-Chocolat a few years ago as I was looking for {life} inspiration. Of course I was attracted to the delicious chocolate and adorable figures these are shaped into, but, as with any new business/website I encounter, I perused their about page and watched this video of owner Katrina Markoff describing her inspiration and creative process.

it's right in front of you

Here I was getting ready to write this blog post, but I have so many ideas written down for future posts that I couldn't decide which one to choose. I shrugged my shoulders, took a deeeeep breath and sighed in frustration, but out of the corner of my eye I saw Quentin Tarantino on TCM talking about the timeless women of the golden age of cinema. That brought so many visuals to my head and I remembered the oh so many images I had saved for years of those black & white film era beauties. This is a visual + sparkle of some of my favorites.

Aren't they all so glamorous!? { Grace Kelly :: Ingrid Bergman :: Audrey Hepburn :: Ginger Rogers }

This little anecdote just reminded me that sometimes the answer you're looking for can be right in front of you. 

{ Images Found Via :: Photobucket }

parodiakis

I came across these cute vinyl toys the other day and fell over in joy. I'm not much of a collector of toys, but these truly take me back to my childhood with familiar characters like 'Chapulin Colorado', 'Cepillin', and the Mexican heart-throb 'Luis Miguel'. These probably speak most to a Mexican/Latin American audience, but they also produce characterizations of Bruce Lee, Gene Simmons, and John Lennon.

a texture sensation

I think I've mentioned before that I am addicted to textures. Anytime I'm passing by any form of textured surfaces, be it in architecture or fabrics, I just have to pass my hand over it or fingers through it. I get a tingly sensation all through my body, and it's exhilarating just to look at it and decipher the patterns created by the textures.

in the mood for spring

Hello all. Well, Spring is finally here, yay!! I hope you had the opportunity of welcoming in the new season with a great outdoor activity. I, luckily living in sunny San Diego California, spent the better part of the day in Balboa Park with my love, Gabriel, and a delicious picnic. There were a lot of people enjoying the warm weather, and at least three weddings and three quinceañeras/sweet sixteens being celebrated. A perfect day for it.

a spring gift for you :: happy weekend

In celebration of Spring I've created this Spring Color set for you, inspired by Oaxacan Black Pottery, which includes a poster and notecard. Just click here for the poster and here for the notecard (envelope not included :) ).

I know we'll have the most beautiful, warm weather in San Diego this weekend. I hope you all have the opportunity to celebrate the first day of Spring with an outdoor picnic or your favorite outdoor activity.  Happy Weekend!

{ Image Via :: LizzyB Loves }

a visual + sparkle of bright spring colors

Have you ever wanted to take so much in at one time that you felt an overwhelming sensation take over your entire body? That's exactly what I feel when I see this visual + sparkle...I just want to roll around in it its so visually stimulating.

Just one day away, I think we've all been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring. In looking forward to and in celebration of such a feel-good season I have for you a feel-good visual + sparkle filled with bright Spring colors of Spring activities and findings.

{ Images Via :: William-Sonoma :: Allan Thinks Flickr :: LilMary Flickr :: The Kitchn :: LizzyB Loves :: FFFFound }

a visual + sparkle of invitations

I just finished the photo shoot for all of the invitations I've designed in the past few years and wanted to share some visual + sparkle of paper goodies.

It's fun to see how I used textured papers in light colors when I started designing invites, to the big contrast of brighter and patterned designs of my most recent invite (the purple & teal Art Nouveau invite right above on the left). You'll be able to see these with more detail and images on my website.

Now I just have to prepare them for the site...which will soon be complete!!

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }

ps22 chorus and pictures of you

I had seen this video last summer and it gave me chills as I was listening to the wonderful kids of PS22 Chorus, but as I came across it again today it made me realize how the wonder and excitement found in the children can bring joy and cheer to anyone and everyone.

This is my favorite The Cure song, it always makes me cry regardless of who sings it, so when I heard the PS22 Chorus' rendition it just made it all that more special. These kids are awesome!!! Their instructor is awesome!!! Check out their YouTube channel and blog to read more about them and LISTEN to more of their great renditions of musical pop favorites from yesterday and today.

in the {designer} kitchen

I love cooking! I'm at my calmest when preparing and cooking food for family and friends. When I'm alone in the kitchen my mind just wanders and it becomes like a meditation session. But, at the moment I don't have enough space in the kitchen of my current residence to spread out and enjoy it to the fullest, thus, I day dream of the perfect cooks kitchen every day. I spend quite a bit of time on a weekly basis scouring the net for inspiration, so I know exactly what I want in my future dream kitchen. These are just a few of my favorites.

a new photo toy

As I've mentioned before, I have a great appreciation for photography. I especially enjoy dabbling in it myself and, although I don't have a completely DSLR camera of my own, I have a Canon PowerShot G6 digital camera with manual functions which I love due to it's swivel screen, but it tends to be a bit bulky.

happy weekend + found objects

This week has been one of those weeks...just looking forward to a 'Movie Day' with my love (which we couldn't do as planned last week). Hope you all enjoy the weekend and these great little home finds from Etsy and around.

Shopping (browsing) for housewares always makes me happy...I'm loving the hand-painted vases by Stephanie Kao.

{ Images Via :: Stephanie Kao :: The Green Glass Company :: Stephanie Kao :: Branch Home :: le souk }

a paper website

How cool is this! I found this while doing my daily blog 'read' and I just played, and played, and played (well, at least three times). Great website by One Bit Increment...all handmade.

{ Image Via :: One Bit Increment }

cristina's 60th birthday bash

While preparing projects for my soon to be launched website, I had great memories of this invitation I designed for my mom's 60th birthday, in collaboration with relvet.

She went all out for her party, remembering the Oldies, but Goodies, of the 60's Rock n' Roll era. From hamburger and hot dog stands to hot fudge sundae stations and hula hoop contests, we knew we had to go all out with the invitation as well. This image of her when she was 15 was the main inspiration throughout the design process because it reminded us of old record covers of the era.

We started out with a Save-the-Date depicting an image of my mom rockin' & rolling. We gave it a modern twist with a polka dot background and large display type.

We chose to create the Save-the-Date as a long, vertical piece so it would fit into a standard #10 Policy envelope (we created ourselves) which added to the modern feel.

For the invitation itself, we wanted to give guests a taste of the fun to be had and we accomplished this with a sampling of the music they would dance the night away to.

This was a great tie-in to the rock n' roll era with the use of a simulated LP (actually a cd).

We kept consistency between the Save-the-Date and the invite with the polka dot background pattern, but in this case we changed the colors to white dots over a light, retro turquoise.

With the idea that a 'record' was just bought at a brick and mortar store, the envelope was created out of craft paper to simulate a paper shopping bag...

with a store logo and all (my logo).

The directions & map were printed on a piece of paper acting as a receipt.

As favors we gave out Hershey's chocolate bars wrapped in one of two designs created to match the Save-the-Date...

and invitation.

We also wrapped the candy boxes in designs matching the candy bars; these were passed around by my mom so they were easy to carry around.

The invitation suite and candy favors were a big hit at the party. We had a blast coming up with the concept and designing each separate piece, so we were thrilled when guests came up to us in excitement. Oh, did I mention we all dressed up, too. :)

{ Images Via :: LizzyB Loves }

happy weekend

Yey...it's Friday! I've been looking forward to the weekend very much over the past few weeks. Yes, I know, I work from home and I'm my own boss, but still, i've got to work and the weekends are for free time. I'm looking forward to working on my LizzyB Loves website and relaxing while watching a movie, maybe. And, of course, Sunday is Oscar Night, can't wait. Have a great weekend. What are your plans?

{ Image Via :: FFFFound }

i covet thee...etsy finds

I've been daydreaming lately about buying myself a beautiful, interesting, and unique bracelet. These are a few of my Etsy finds.

{ Images Via :: Ms Wedosky :: Cyndie Smith Designs :: Addiction To Detail :: CG Whitfield }

the brand quiz

A little afternoon fun. How much do you recognize the brands you see everyday? Me, not very well as I got a 15 out of 21 on the second try. I found this cool quiz on VYRE via UnderConsideration...try your hand at it and let me know how well you do. Have Fun!

{ Image Via :: VYRE }

giada de laurentiis for target

I've been a huge Food Network fan for many years now. I especially love watching Giada De Laurentiis...she's my favorite. There's a freshness and sophistication to her show that makes me feel like everyday is Spring.

When I found out she would be collaborating with Target on a line of kitchen ware and food items I just fell over in excitement. These are a few of my favorites...I want them all.

a lizzyb loves facelift

I've been trying to finish up my website for a while, but I always get stumped in re-designing my logo; I think many of you could relate. In an effort to impulse my finalizing the branding for LizzyB Loves, I've gathered some inspiration.

I love the swirly, calligraphy effect in this sample and the way they incorporate the piggy into it.

the macBook...all dressed up

Now, Mac users, don't hate me...I've been a PC user all my life. Sure, I'm a designer and I use a PC...It's served me very well.

Anywho, browsing around I came across these cool MacBook decals which I loved (they've been around the blog-world for a while, but I just had to post them, too). I would totally get this Mac Chucks decal, i've been wearing them for years now and practically live in them.