Post Box Press

Etsy Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:03:00 +0000

We opened our Etsy shop today! Come by and say hello :)

JB+KL

Digital Love

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:14:00 +0000

I've never been a huge fan of digital art, but I think the work featured on Experience the Planets really shows off the passion of these artists. As a fan of sci fi, I can appreciate the content, but what I enjoy the most is seeing an artist's imagination and creativity at work. You can buy these prints from the website as well, but before you click on to the site, prepare yourself for the "experience" (aka the music, which I would normally hate, but somewhat enjoy in this context). Experience the Planets

JB

On My Desk

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Leo making some important paper selection choices for Post Box Press. Criteria? Chew-ability.

He's a big French Paper fan.

KL

Passion laid bare

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 07:48:00 +0000

I was obsessed with the work of a photographer named Aaron Chang as a young boy; the images of barreling waves and idealized surfers resonated within me. A few weeks ago, and fell back in love with a similar portrayal of the sea in a video by Astray Films, featuring incredible storytelling and absolutely stunning imagery. It takes a few minutes to watch, but it's well worth your time.

Summertime

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:01:00 +0000

p.s. The Cakes That Go Pop website is up! Come by and say hello!

KL

Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:56:00 +0000

My husband and I had our first weekend away without Leo at the end of May. We decided to go to LA: far enough to feel like a real getaway, but close enough to rush home in the middle of the night if necessary :)

*It's worth noting that Leo stayed with Grandma + Grandpa, and had such a fun time he didn't even know we were gone.

We have long had a love/hate relationship with LA. We love the Getty, but hate battling the traffic to get there. We love camping in Malibu, but can't stand the crowds. We love the food, but hate the image driven culture. Living in San Diego means driving through LA every time we head up the coast. We often leave home at ridiculous hours to avoid the 405 at rush hour.

But, like many cities, LA seems to be undergoing a renewal of sorts. There are artists coming out of the woodwork, small, local restaurants opening, and people generally longing for a slower pace of life.

We started off the weekend with a tour of the Gamble House in Pasadena. Ed's working on his masters in architecture, and the Gamble House is one of those must-see residences in SoCal. I'm not a huge craftsman fan, but I fell in love with the sleeping porches. I know sleeping porches were born out of paranoia, but man are they awesome. I told Ed that I want at least one sleeping porch when we build a house someday, and he agreed. Maybe the best part is they let us picnic on the back lawn when the tour was over!

Then we headed down to Silverlake to check out Claire Vivier's new shop, but unfortunately we got there 30 minutes after they'd closed. I was so disappointed my husband promised me one of these next time we're in LA :)

(image via Claire)

We stayed in Santa Monica at The Ambrose, which is perfectly located a mile or so from the beach (read: craziness). The hotel is LEED certified, and they have all sorts of cool green touches: Aveda bath products, a British cab that runs on biodiesel, and free bike rentals. Not to mention the best continental breakfast I've ever had from local Urth Cafe.

The next day we stopped by Space 15 Twenty, which Sunset magazine describes as "a former lighting studio refurbed into a mini-mall for the creative". The space is amazing and totally worth your while if you're in Hollywood. There's a lot of outdoor space (they host a mini flea market on Sundays) and great shops. We especially enjoyed Hennessey + Ingalls, an art and architecture bookstore.

We lunched at Umami, just because we had to find out all the fuss was about, and we can't say no to a good burger. I had the truffle burger, which was very good, but definitely didn't live up to the hype. I don't know...I guess I'm more of a Jayne's girl.

(image via Alice)

It was a weekend of renewal for us, and a fresh look at LA. We'll be back :)

KL

Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:43:00 +0000

This past weekend was my graduation, and with the creative genius of my wife and the helping hands of family, we pulled off a killer party. From the invites to the streamers to the tiny cupcake flags, Melissa put together the best party I've ever had.

More people than expected RSVP'd, which made our tiny midtown apartment work every square foot it has (or lacks). Fortunately, we are blessed with a great, overgrown backyard where we were able to host our guests.

They brought the beer, and we supplied the bbq tri-tip, and I think everyone had a good time. Thank you Melissa for a great party, and thank you to all the family and friends that took part in helping me finish school these past... ahem... eight years :)

JB

BUILT

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:07:00 +0000

My wife and I purchased a Cannon DSLR camera about two months ago, and have been loving it. I had wanted one for use with school and work projects for quite some time, but we had never been willing to take the jump (in price/class/bulkiness) until recently. But that's not what this post is about. I hate how every camera bag looks like a camera bag. We have searched and searched for a descent camera bag that is functional, yet doesn't make us targets for camera theft when traveling. While this bag isn't perfect, I love the design sensibility that went into it's construction, and that goes into everything that BUILT makes.

Truth be told, since purchasing this moderately priced bag, we returned it. It's honestly too big for people like us who just want to carry the camera- no extra lenses or flashes or any other fancy gadgetry. But that doesn't make the bag any less noteworthy. If you're looking for a great looking, well made bag that looks more like a man-tote than a standard black Cannon bag, check out more here.

JB

Work Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:12:00 +0000

My husband and I have been talking/dreaming a lot lately about designing and building a house together. Maybe it's our way of coping with the fact that he's got 2+ years of grad school to go before we can even THINK about buying a house, let alone designing and building one.

One conversation we always seem to come back to is the work space. We both work at home, so our work spaces are a big part of our daily lives. I can often be found folding laundry at my desk late at night. Eddie's office doubles as Leo's nursery. When I stumbled across this Working Artists series by photographer Andrew Paynter, I was compelled to share a few images. I love seeing how/where other artists work, especially artists who work at home. Loving the garage studios, and the photo of Geoff McFetridge with his daughter.

KL

Breathe

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:47:00 +0000

My husband gave me this print by Nikki McClure for Christmas. It moved me deeply because, at the time, I was napping daily with our 3 month old son, Leo. I soon discovered the rest of her work, which is equally inspiring.

From her website: "Her work depicts the virtues of hard labor and patience, which is inherent in her process as well as in the images themselves: weathered hands washing dishes, people sweeping, mothers caring for their babies, and farmers working the land. But there is also a large element of celebration, of taking the time to roll around in the grass and get wet from the early morning dew. The need for all of us to lay down on the ground, grab hold of the earth, look at the stars and dream. She magnifies the importance of simple things, like the change of seasons, slowing down the world for a moment so we can actually taste it."

Nikki McClure is also the illustrator of the fabulous children's book "All In a Day" - perfect spring reading :)

Happy Easter weekend, everyone!

KL

Cakes That Go Pop

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:40:00 +0000

We just finished a logo + business cards for the lovely ladies at Cakes That Go Pop, a local cake pop business. We're hard at work on their website, but in the meantime check out their Facebook page! Yum :)

Macbeth

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:58:00 +0000

I love this shirt from Macbeth, their logo is just so simple and clean. Not a huge fan of all their products, but I thought this shirt was noteworthy.

JB

Lone Star State

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Let me just say that I haven't always been a fan of Texas. I've only been there twice: both times to Houston, and both times in the dead of summer. Enough said?

But lately I've had a love affair with Texas. Here are five reasons I'm smitten with the lone star state.

1. Joslyn's blog, Simple Lovely. Joslyn hails from Northern California, but she and her family have made their home in Dallas. I'm not a big blog reader, but I have to admit I read Joslyn's blog religiously. As I told her in an email recently, she manages to be down to earth and glamorous at the same time, which in my book is a winning combination :)

2. Paloma's Nest in Austin. We ordered Leo's first Christmas ornament from their Etsy site, and it's destined to be a family heirloom. It's so perfectly simple. Thank you, Caroline! By the way, if I was planning another wedding, I would be all about Caroline's wedding stuff - check it out.

3. F is for Frank in Dallas. My husband gave me this Stingray Chest Plate for Christmas. It's even more stunning in person. Designed and handmade by Dallas designers Shannah Frank and Casey Melton. I want EVERYTHING.

4. Austin. Broad, I know. But it just seems like there's so much happening in the Texas capital. Art, music, ENERGY. Sam Beam of Iron and Wine lives there. There's SXSW. (And did I mention Sam Beam lives there?)

5. Last, and definitely not least, Leah Duncan. I was introduced to Leah's work by my dear friend, Sarah, who gave me a set of her cards for Christmas. We were looking for some art for our living room at the time, and I immediately knew Leah was my gal :) Her work is beautiful, and whimsical, and I'm a huge fan of her color palette. As it turns out she's also a total sweetheart, and she worked tirelessly getting me just the right set of prints for our house. (The wall looks beautiful, Leah :))

p.s. When I finally make it to Austin, I'm staying here :) PERFECTION.

KL

Paper Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:34:00 +0000

This caught my eye in a recent search for sustainable packaging concepts, and I can't believe how simple and functional it is. It often seems to me that there must be better and simpler ways to package products that we use every day, and yet no one wants to stop to ask why we do things the way we do. Thanks to companies like Brand Image who take the time to do problem solving that has a physical, day-to-day impact.

JB

Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:52:00 +0000

You know sleep is precious when you have half the West Elm bedding catalog up on your inspiration board :) I'm seriously loving all the simple graphics and mix of bold and subtle colors. And is it just me, or did West Elm hire a new, incredibly talented stylist? Because these photos are GORGEOUS.

Especially loving these classic stripe sheets in grey and green.

KL

An Augmented Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:51:00 +0000

Not to toot my own horn, but I was looking at one of my first blog posts, titled A Holographic Future, and noticed this picture, which I had included in the post.

A few months later, I came across this video for then called "Project Natal," an interactive gaming system from Microsoft, now known as Xbox Kinect. The video shows people virtually seeing how clothes would look on using Kinect, very similar to what I had posted in the A Holographic Future post.
Part of me is excited I posted this only several days before this video was put on YouTube, but most of me is excited to see this interactive technology come to life. Melissa and I got to play Kinect the other night with the bro-in-law and girlfriend, and although we didn't try on any clothes, I must say it was pretty cool. In case you haven't seen the Kinect promo, check it out here.

JB

Arcata

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:37:00 +0000

I don't think I've ever been able to fully put this into words until now, but it seems that Melissa and I often spend our free weekends in search of the cold and rainy places, specifically where the trees are only separated from the sea by fields of fog. It's become evident to me through looking back at the pictures we take, which is a strange way to find the common thread of our weekend adventures.

A little over a month ago, Melissa and I went on a spur of the moment trip to Arcata, a small city nestled above Eureka in Northern California. A five hour drive landed us in this sleepy town, home of Humbolt State University, and not much else. We enjoyed our few days there by driving through this serene coastline, hiking deep into Fern Gulch, and driving up and down foggy country roads. There's something appealing about this slower-paced lifestyle, it's strangely magnetic.

JB

Cartography

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:23:00 +0000

What do you get when two cartographers meet, fall in love, and decide to get married? A map-themed wedding invitation of course :)

We're loving this project because, one, Jen and Andy are so fun to hang out with (they introduced me to Alchemy in South Park - you MUST try this place for Sunday brunch), and two, how awesome is a map-themed wedding invitation? Especially when you're working with two incredibly talented map makers (check out the topo of the Russian River Valley that Andy created for the back of the save-the-date!)

The save-the-dates went out last week - such a perfectly romantic valentine :)

KL

Up There

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:26:00 +0000

My brother turned me on to this sweet documentary about creating billboards, the original way- brick and paint. It's about thirteen minutes, but well worth the time as the imagery is fantastic, and the story interesting. I love the passion of these guys, to make something by hand in a world driven by technology and speed. And the finished product- amazing.

UP THERE from Jon on Vimeo.

"If it looks perfect up close... it's probably not going to look perfect from the ground."

JB

The Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:48:00 +0000

I found this image while researching vintage photography for a website we're working on, and for some reason I can't get it out of my mind:

There's something so charming about life before digital.

{image via deviant art}

KL

Scroll Away

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:01:00 +0000

As much as I dislike Nike, I have to admit that this site is designed really well. I'm still trying to figure out what is so cool about it (as well as how they've made it feel so natural), it must have something to do with how it feels interactive, although all you're doing is moving the mouse.

I don't agree with all of the message on this site, but it's definitely worth having a look. The simplicity of the site is really what drives the message, there's nothing else there to clutter it up- love it. Check out the site here- Nike Better World. Don't get stuck watching the video, scroll all the way down first.

JB

The Netherlands

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 06:24:00 +0000

Watching the World Cup this past summer, I fell in love with the simplicity of the Netherlands away jersey: stark white with a beautiful pair of chevrons down the chest. Sometimes the simplest designs are the most effective, letting the white space do the rest of the work. My dad gave me the jersey as a gift this Christmas, and now most of my Sundays are spent in this beauty (even if American football is on).

JB

Prefab Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:52:00 +0000

As this blog evolves, I'm beginning to understand that it's more about aesthetic appreciation than strictly design. So, in that line of thought comes the next blog post. My wife and I have been looking at our options for buying a home in California, and the options are both overwhelming and generally disappointing. Thankfully, there are some good looking options for buying a new home that don't include living 10 feet from your neighbor, mostly found in prefabricated housing. One company that has particularly stood out in our search for modern, clean-lined, prefab housing is mk designs. I am a particular fan of the Breezehouse (seen below), but wanted to share the video from the process of the Solaire house literally unfolding on a concrete slab (see link below).

I'm impressed by not only the design of their houses, but also the way that they economically package and efficiently build these homes on site. Understanding that there is a lot that goes into preparing a plot of land to get to the point where mk designs' crew can show up and pop your beautiful house into place, the building process is incredible and fast. Check out the video at mk Designs website.

JB

Big Sur

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:54:00 +0000

Some friends of ours just got back from a trip to Big Sur, and I'm all nostalgic. Ed and I spent five days in Big Sur last July. It was Ed's birthday, and we wanted to do one last road trip just the two of us before the baby arrived.

Big Sur is one of the most romantic places I've ever been. It has a magical quality. It was the first trip Ed and I took together (almost 4 years ago!) and we have taken many trips since, but this place makes me fall in love with my husband all over again. We camped in the Los Padres National Forest - check out the front cover of Sunset's July issue. That's our spot. Seriously.

We drove to Carmel for a day, walked on the beach with Otis, had breakfast at Deetjen's (I made Ed promise we could stay a night at this funky place on our next trip), checked out the eclectic Henry Miller library, and spent a lot of time talking about how excited we were to meet Leo (of course we didn't know it was Leo at the time, which is hard to wrap my head around now.)

This has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth - it's no wonder this landscape inspired some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century.

KL

Photo Album

noreply@blogger.com (Post Box Press) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:11:00 +0000

In the world of iPhoto and Flickr, the idea of a physical photo album seems outdated. I remember looking through my grandparents photo albums, the yellowing acetate overlays sticking to the photos and becoming brittle from years of sitting in drawers. While this may happen to this stylish freestanding photo album in another forty years, at least it will look cool all the way there.

Clean, simple design that functions standing on it's own as an art form, folded out like a book, or spread out in an accordion fold (sweet way to look at the album as a whole). Check out more inspiring home accessories from Better Living Through Design.

JB