Tuesday, March 27, 2012

typography tuesday

The other day a friend asked if I could set up a template to play around with indesign. Well. I am still working on the template ( hopefully that will be next week's post) but I thought it would be good to at least lay out how to set up a document because it is not exactly straightforward. 

I don't know if this is the best way to do it. It is certainly not the only way, but it is how I learned when I took a DESMA typography class in my last year of college(how this course was the best and most life changing class I have ever taken would require an entirely separate post) and has worked out for me. 

So here are the steps to set up a new, basic project in InDesign: 
1. Open a new document. just ok whatever default size/settings are there - we will adjust it all in a minute.
2. We want our units to be in inches because I don't know about you but judging the size of a pica is a little above my head. 

so go to indesign > preferences > units and increments

then select 'inches' in the dropdown menu for both 'horizontal' and 'vertical'.

3. Cool! Now it will be much easier to select the size of the document. 

go to file > document setup

From here you can select the width and height of the document (in inches woo!) 

4. Oooook almost ready to actually do something! Last thing is to make sure you have all the tools you need to create whatever it is you are creating. There are a bunch - if you click on 'window' at the top you will see just how many. 
There are 3 or 4 I like to have available at all times:
- The main toolbar should already be on your screen(shown below on the lower left with the      arrows, shapes, and buttons on it) 
- Some other ones you will want will include the character toolbar - easiest way to get that is to just press cmd+t for mac or ctrl + t for pc. This is super important because it is where you adjust your fonts, sizes, and spacing WHOA!
- Finally the 'Pages' and 'Color' windows are good to have around. 'Pages' is a great overview of what you have going on and..believe it or not, you can add additional PAGES by simply dragging the white square under the ones that are displayed. Don't use the master pages unless you know what they are*. And the 'Color' does exactly what it sounds like.

* Master pages are kind of like an overall template. If you create a master page, then all of your pages will have what is on it. it is mainly used for books to display page numbers/column widths/etc.

5. woohoo!! Now the fun can start! To make a text box just click on the T in the main toolbar, drag whatever size you like in the main doc, type something out, and start messing around :)


Thursday, March 22, 2012

basically all of my dreams answered


as i was doing my usual hunt for whatever bow-laden clothing i saw zooey deschanel wearing on the latest episode of new girl, i came across everything i have ever wanted.



Tuesday, March 20, 2012

videoz

new video of pretty old stuff. I have 100% neglected imovie since I moved. Another 5 months of clips to come soon...
 

things i want that will never go on sale

There have been some items lately(as in the past 6 months) that have really been nagging at me. I hate paying full price. I always have a promo code for online purchases and if it doesn't have it's original price covered with a markdown sticker, I will rarely touch it in stores. I always check craigslist before going to ikea.

These items are all expensive.They will not be going on sale anytime soon. Actually the only way I foresee a discount is if I hunt down a warehouse sale or win a blog giveaway that happens to be featuring them.

1. Lo and Sons O.G. bag  - $295
This is the quintessential 'weekend bag', designed to fit a laptop, extra pair of shoes, and whatever else for a quick trip down to la. It has been featured on two giveaways and of course I lost both times. I guess I should really consider getting up with this twitter fad because at about 300 bucks, it is just too much for me to spend on something I would pull out only five or so times a year. Gah I would feel so chic at airport security though :/

via lo & sons
2. Woody's Bamboo Fenders - $140
I got a Public bike last week. Mostly because my walks back home to Hayes Valley from the Mission were getting a little too long and creepy for my taste. It's been fun and scary(this was my first time taking the bike out - my manic face comes out when i am either terrified or there is really good cake in front of me)
via public bike and my iphone

Anyway, my bike is ORANGE and also one of the older first generation bikes..meaning my fenders don't match like the newer models! I'm planning to add front and rear racks, but augh these fenders. I have some intense cycling friends and even their intense cycling fenders are cheaper than this. Also, I really don't foresee myself biking in the rain. This is just to make visiting my friends easier and safer at night when public transit isn't a sensible option. So unless I happen to go to Oregon where these are made and run across a Woody's sample sale, I'm not quite sure what I'll do about this. Maybe I can just cover the fenders I have now with wooden contact paper ;)

3. DON'T JUDGE ME!
Ok. This one is weird. But I do really want it. The Hatch Collection Coat in twill runs for $338. Oh yeah. and it is a maternity coat. BUT. the whole point of the collection is for it to a be a transitional piece that works before and after pregnancy too. I'm nowhere near being close to even thinking about being a pregnant lady, but I already kind of dress like one. Jeggings, loose sweaters, moccasins...these are my staples. and this coat is FLEECE LINED SO COZY! but with 3/4 sleeves you can still keep cool. I just think it looks so chic and easy and would keep things dressed up outside while being a slumber party inside. Out of the three items I have listed this piece is the one I would most likely buy because I would probably wear it everyday. But still. $340? I rarely go over $100 for any one piece of clothing. We'll see if I crack.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

: (

I have 2 cavities. I have never had a cavity. EVER. I am very sad about it. No more perfect record :( :( :(

via mymilktoof

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

uhmmm may we discuss spoonflower for a moment?

during my daily blog reading today, i saw this  arrow print in sfgirlbybay's post. oh man that is some cute fabric. spurred by my recent and slightly frustrating trip to michael levine this past weekend, i got VERY excited about this newfound website. basically anyone can create/design a fabric pattern, share it with people, and spoonflower will produce it!!! the price is kind of $$$ (all the prints i want are $18 a yard) but the designs are like nothing i have found anywhere else. i usually come across 1 or 2 of these prints in an ENTIRE fabric store and here they are - by the thousands! i've started a pinterest board because once my cart got up to over $100, i considered that maybe i should think about my choices first. or start planning a quilt :)










In other news, the rare baby bunny Til recently faced his tragic end - at his first press conference, a cameraman accidentally stepped on him:(

Saturday, March 10, 2012

metropolis

in la for the weekend- today i checked out the metropolis exhibit at LACMA - very cool. maybe i will make a video soon.

the boulder has arrived!
erin and anne marie drove up and we got delicious chai at profetta :)

that's all for now :) hoping to make it to some bead stores and michael levine tomorrow.





Saturday, March 3, 2012

what's new

this weekend we drove to santa cruz for my grandma's woman of valor ceremony. it was nice - beautiful weather and lots of family I rarely see.

took the 1 down from san francisco:
I brought place cards for the dinner:

a lot of food and some family meltdowns later, i am back in the hotel room getting ready to go back to the city.

excited to get home - pizza night tonight! and lots of projects i hope to finish.

1. fix the mess of a frame arrangement i spent way too long trying to make hah!

2. not a project, just have to share my succulents!
crazy story about this guy - it is a clipping from a succulent i bought a long time ago and subsequently murdered(by accident!). well after throwing it's shriveled parent in the trash i saw this guy forgotten in a box and look! it has already grown petals! with no dirt or water! christmas miracle! the legacy lives on!
...i think i need a pet or something.

3. the Ikea Bookshelf Project. going on 3 weeks now. i am attempting to do this diy project but got a little busy this week. so my kitchen has looked like this for about 5 days now. reason #199 that living alone is awesome.

4. facetiming more with these people.
that's all - new typography tuesday this week hopefully!

Friday, March 2, 2012

my own bagel day

hello!

so i have a backlogged list of blog drafts gah! so i'm just going to mass post them and then stop being so neglectful of my poor blog.

oh yeah! i am in sf now(it has been 5 months bahaha)


i now work at gap headquarters doing direct mail and email reporting on campaigns for all of their brands. it's awesome. except no more bagel day :(


yesterday was really rough. i had a hugeeeeeeeee headache. i spent my lunch passed out at a table on the roof. then after a couple hours sitting at my desk suppressing the urge to vomit, i came to the conclusion i might have a migraine and should probably go home.