Skate Dog Studios

Pantone Project

2011-03-11T04:48:00.000-08:00

The other day I read a blog about the 10 Pantone colors for spring of 2011 and I was intrigued. It's not that I hadn't heard about Pantone colors, I just never really followed them...until now. Here's a little back story on the history of Pantone as told by designface for Pantone http://designface.co.uk/content/pantonehistory.

Pantone, as it is today, was founded in 1962, when the company—at the time a small business which manufactured colour cards for cosmetics companies—was bought by Lawrence Herbert, who had been an employee since 1956. He immediately changed its direction, developing the first colour matching system in 1963. Herbert remains the CEO, Chairman, and President of the company.

The company's primary products include the Pantone Guides, which consist of a large number of small (approximately 6×2 inches or 15×5 cm) thin cardboard sheets, printed on one side with a series of related colour swatches and then bound into a small flipbook. For instance, a particular "page" might contain a number of yellows varying in luminance from light to dark.

The idea behind the PMS is to allow designers to 'colour match' specific colours when a design enters production stage—regardless of the equipment used to produce the colour. This system has been widely adopted by Graphic Designers, Reproduction and Printing Houses for a number of years now. Pantone recommends that PMS Colour Guides be purchased annually as their inks become more yellow over time. Colour variance also occurs within editions based on the paper stock used (coated, matte or uncoated), while inter-edition colour variance occurs when there are changes to the specific paper stock used.

What I find it really interesting about all of this is how the fashion industry and now Etsians follow the Pantone color trends religiously, so I decided to put it to the test. The following are the 10 Pantone Colors for Spring 2011:

1 HONEYSUCKLE PANTONE 18-2120

Percentage of designers who used this color: 15.56 percent

2 REGATTA PANTONE 18-4039

Percentage of designers who used this color: 14.81 percent

3 CORAL ROSE PANTONE 16-1349

Percentage of designers who used this color: 14.07 percent

4 BEESWAX PANTONE 14-0941

Percentage of designers who used this color: 13.33 percent

5 PEAPOD PANTONE 14-6324

Percentage of designers who used this color: 10.37 percent

6 BLUE CURACAO PANTONE 15-4825

Percentage of designers who used this color: 8.15 percent

7 RUSSET PANTONE 18-1235

Percentage of designers who used this color: 7.41 percent

8 SILVER PEONY PANTONE 12-1206

Percentage of designers who used this color: 6.67 percent

9 LAVENDER PANTONE 15-3817

Percentage of designers who used this color: 5.19 percent

10 SILVER CLOUD PANTONE 15-4502

Percentage of designers who used this color: 4.44 percent

So here's my plan...wait for it...okay here's the plan. I've decided to make 10 projects using the Pantone Colors and 10 of the same projects not using the Pantone Colors, so basically two of the same item for as long as it takes me to finish. They will be listed on my Skate Dog Studios etsy site http://www.etsy.com/shop/SkateDogStudios?ref=si_shop under a folder called the Pantone Project. At the end of the project I will post the stats for the Pantone Colors projects as compared to the off colors. If anyone else is interested in joining me in my endeavors awesome, pass the word! Either way I think this project will be a win win, I create new items for sale, and I finished a project:)

A Few of My Favorite Etsy Things

2011-03-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie, I spend a lot of time on Etsy...People make really cool stuff! Here are a few of my favorite things:

1.) The infamous DIRTY/CLEAN dishwasher sign by wonbien

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62515959/quick-flick-clean-dirty-dishwasher-sign

No joke, the day before I found this bad bear I was just thinking to myself "hmmm, maybe if I got a dirty/clean sign for the dishwasher I wouldn't be the only one in the house to load/unload the dishwasher..." You watch out wonbien a sale is coming your way!

2.) Bird measuring spoons by beehivekitchenware

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67291095/bird-measuring-spoons

Now I'm not the most fabulous or motivated cook in the world, but I feel like I could be Martha friggin Stewart if I owned these spoons...or, if you don't like that response it could be more like that Rice Crispy treats commercial where the end result is delicious goodies with little to no work involved. Either way, I firmly believe that these spoons are the bees knees of cooking utensils.

3.) Finally... da da da DA! The Bearded lumberjack hat!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64890956/bearded-lumberjack-hat-sz-sm-in-burnt

Holy crap it's like beard hair extensions for dudes, or the laaaaaadies. The only person I know that can grow a stellar beard like this is my buddy, Eric Shepard...until now. Game on Eric is all I have to say, wait'll I have ownership of my beard hat. Yeah, I'm a girl, so what? I'll still destroy you with my faux beard.

New Feeders...and a Rodeo?

2011-02-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

So my parents are in town, but that didn't stop me from making a couple of new things...

Mad For Plaid Skate Pet Feeder

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68420851/mad-for-plaid-skate-pet-feeder

She's a Brick House Skate Pet Feeder

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68415385/shes-a-brick-house-skate-pet-feeder

Surf's Up Wall Hanger

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68422700/surfs-up-skate-deck-wall-hanger-one-hook

After the creating was done; however, I deemed it necessary to take the rents out on the town and show them something a little different...ENTER THE RODEO.

My friend, Mark, from work is an excellent bullfighter. Every weekend he's always somewhere protecting cowboys all that is bull.

This particular weekend was a little different though. The Hangin Tree Ranch needed volunteer riders, so Mark sounded the call for all cowboys at work...Enter Deitrich.

Now I'm not sure if bull riding was something on Deitrich's bucket list or if he accidentally said "cowboy up" before his brain could register what he was getting into (I'm thinking mouth spoke before brain registered) either way we weren't going to miss this bad bear for the world, oh and we were going to make sure to video tape it.

So there you have it...in three seconds it was all over. What's better is he paid $40 to do it, wore chaps, annnnd the boots with da spurs YEE HAW! Thank goodness for Mark is all I have to say.

Crafty Bas@ar!s of the Week

2011-02-17T03:08:00.000-08:00

And now for our Crafty Bas@ar!s of the Week...deckstool.

Stools and benches out of recycled skateboard decks? Now them's some crafty bastar#s!

Created by Pennsylvania skaters Adam Podlaski and his brother Jason, Deckstool's and benches are made up of recycled trucks and skateboard decks and run between $175 and $550. Well worth the cash for a unique piece o' furniture I say.

You can check out their designs on http://www.etsy.com/shop/deckstool or http://www.deckstool.com/

Be sure to go to their Etsy site quick...From now until the end of February they are offering a MID-February Sale. Through the end of February 2011, all deckstools are $25 off plus FREE continental US shipping! ($175 + $25 off shipping for international orders.) They are also taking $150 off all deckbench orders!

An Open Letter to my Drill Press

2011-02-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes I seriously hate crafting. Yeah; I said that, SOMETIMES I HATE CRAFTING. I don't know, I read all the blogs about how great people's wares are, how to build your business and make it better, or how amazing it can be to do your own thing, which is all great and very helpful, but you never really hear about the downside of it. I'm talking about those really bad days where the last thing you want to do is come home from your day job only to work on your night job and nothing goes right. Case in point, my drill press (yeah I'm talking to you drill press). So here it goes, from the top:

Dear Drill Press,

If I could launch you to the end of the earth and back right now I would. Why do you want to break on me when I have orders to fulfill? I'm not sure why, you never respond, but here is my response to you, we are through. I'm replacing you with the Dremel 3 in 1 and I don't really feel bad about it. So have a good life drill press and take care.

Love,

Management

Okay I feel a little bit better about things now.

Does anyone else have days where everything they do with their business doesn't work out according to plan? Or you feel like throwing in the towel, yet you don't because there is always that shiny success story at the end of the tunnel? Well I want to hear from you, but for now it's off to give Skate Pet Feeder making another go....There are still hours left in the day.

2010-05-13T05:18:00.001-07:00

Interesting dog facts to start your day! I had no idea the greyhound could run 45 mph! http://ping.fm/MQXch

2010-05-12T04:35:00.001-07:00

It can be tough naming your first puppy, I personally went with a Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure theme by choosing the names Ziggy Piggy and Tank the Destroyer Esquire, here's a great link to help you decide http://ping.fm/DwbHQ

2010-05-03T17:56:00.001-07:00

I (Skate Dog Studios) just submitted the Skate Pet Feeder to Pet Product News International for their annual editor's choice awards for 2010...Cross your fingers that they love it!

2010-04-23T07:59:00.001-07:00

and something for your hipster pet...
http://ping.fm/ZUtQU

2010-04-21T19:52:00.001-07:00

I wonder if I can get Tank or Ziggy to wear one of these... Dog Phones!
http://ping.fm/e2xZf

2010-04-17T04:44:00.001-07:00

Simply amazing...Anything is possible
http://ping.fm/Wj94M

2010-04-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

Read a little more about J.P.'s Skate It Forward volunteer project - Soles4Souls on my Skate It Forward Blog http://ping.fm/uoGrv

2010-04-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

New Skate Dog Studios blog posting! Check it out!

Goodbye weekend:(

2010-04-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

It's 830pm on a Monday night and I am bidding adieu to a long work filled weekend (my day job gave us Monday off, yay!) A lot has been happening since I last wrote...so with my feet up and Tank on my left squeaking his new Kong ball, let me recap...

Friday: Leave work, make feeders...this is a never ending battle! Got some new stuff posted for my site and pics sent off to some stores for drop shipping...The day was beautiful so I later snuck off to the beach.

Saturday: More feeders (do you see a pattern here?) In the afternoon I went out to DoubleWide Surf Shop and got my newest Skate It Forward applicant, J.P., signed up as well as interest from other skaters. I'll write more on his project on my new Skate It Forward blog, courtesy of my lovely baby sister, Lynn. I think it's a great one though! Got Doggy Go Greens feeders packed and ready to go on my way home, and then off I sped to a pig picking in Beaulaville...If you have never been you should try it, North Carolinians make them some deeeeeelishouusss barbeque. Afterwards I was able to make it to my favorite pub to listen to some great blue grass music.

Sunday: More feeders cut, I just bought a new hole cut saw for my drill press, so the skateboards cut like butter right now, it's great. I'm trying to gear up for the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, NC next weekend, so the more feeders the better. This will be my first festival that I've done, so I'm curious to see how they will fare. Cross your fingers...

Monday: More homework (I go to school at night), moved my office to my new spare bedroom, and yep, you guessed it, cut more feeders. I was able to get out and buy some beautiful annuals for my garden, finally got them planted tonight.

So now I'm done (for now), there is a siren going off in the distance and Tank, my youngest lab, is howling at it. I'll keep you posted about the Azalea Festival with DoubleWide...It's gonna be ridiculous!

2010-03-25T14:01:00.001-07:00

Check out this posting in Ready Made magazine about Skate It Forward!
http://ping.fm/WWa9Q

2010-03-25T09:22:00.001-07:00

12" feeder legs are in! Only available on 8" wide decks

2010-03-22T12:34:00.001-07:00

Tipsy Society: Spruce up Those Pet Bowls
an awesome blog starring the Skate Pet Feeder by Courtney
http://ping.fm/dtiG2

2010-03-22T08:20:00.001-07:00

Oh snaps the Skate Pet Feeder is EVERYWHERE!
http://ping.fm/kkbwU

2010-03-21T18:46:00.001-07:00

Skate Dog Studios presents: Skate It Forward
http://ping.fm/7gaW3

Skate Dog Studios presents: Skate It Forward

2010-03-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday night, the boys are piled on the couch with me and I think it's about time I talk about my newest adventure...Skate It Forward.

Skate It Forward is a project I'm working on to highlight skateboarding and its riders in a positive way by helping out the community through paying it forward (Skate It Forward). The way it works is simple, if a person is under 18 years old and comes up with a plan to help your community in some way either through volunteering, cleaning up the environment, donating, anything they think would be a worth while project and keeps their grades up in school, I will provide that person free decks to ride. When the decks are broken in, I'll take them back, exchange it for a new one, and make the old deck into a recycled feeder...pretty easy right?

Below are some images of my first Skate It Forward recycled feeder

This GIRL skateboard was skated by a youth from Ogden, NC who is Skating it Forward by helping keep the area around the Skate Barn, an indoor skate park in Hampstead, NC clean (www.skatebarn.com) He makes sure to keep his grades up in school and takes time out on the weekends to pick up trash around one of his favorite places to skate, keeping it nice for everyone else who skates there.

In the weeks to come, I'll be highlighting more riders and what they are doing to help the community, pretty exciting stuff!

If you or anyone else you know is interested in becoming part of Skate It Forward, either through skating, donating boards, or just helping me make Skate It Forward bigger and better, please don't hesitate to call (910) 376-2619 or email me @ info@skatedogstudios.com...a big thanks ahead of time:)

2010-03-21T14:47:00.001-07:00

Had an awesome time today @dwskate&surf checking out the skate barn and meeting with the skaters...thanks Scott for all your help!

2010-03-18T20:39:00.001-07:00

New postage stamp aims to help shelter animals
http://ping.fm/NS3hR

2010-02-19T06:09:00.001-08:00

Yay it's Friday!

Welcome to 2010 here's your blog?

2010-02-13T05:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I'm only a couple months late, but to my defense, I was busy. A lot has been going on since last I wrote. I packed up shop in Iraq, came home, and have been spending time with "the kids" and friends. So I call February my New Year because I'm finally back in the States and able to do stuff.

First order of business get rid of this damn snow! The whole reason I live in North Carolina is for the beaches, ocean, warm weather, and, oh yeah, NO SNOW! So why am I staring outside looking at white stuff? Tanker loves it.

Tank in the blizzard of 2010

It was actaully pretty funny to wake up this morning and throw snowballs for Tank Tank. He runs around in the yard looking for them forever. Mean? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely.

Tanker running in the snow

One might wonder why I don't have any pictures of Ziggy in the snow...That's because he is ridiculously smart and refuses to venture out in it. Good boy Pig, good boy.

Ziggy, the smarter of my two children

Besides the snow, I've been diligently working on Skate Dog Studios. A lot has been happening in the last couple of weeks, all for the good! If you haven't seen it yet, check out the new and improved website: http://www.skatedogstudios.com/ thanks to the creative minds of Avall designs. I love it, it has a clean look and is easy to use. Users can now see several different photos of the many Skate Pet Feeders for sale and soon they will be able to purchase even more items like collars, leashes, beds, toys, etc. Ashley and Nick also redesigned my blog and Twitter pages, so everything bundles up into a nice neat package.

But enough about me, I want to know what you guys want. What are your favorite pet items you like to purchase? What would you like me to blog about? To me, 2010 is about you - getting you as much good pet info as I can and offering the best pet products possible. In the coming months I'll be reviewing several different unique pet items with the help of my head quality assurance reps, Ziggy and Tank. I'll also be trying out different dog treat recipes as well as other fun D.I.Y pet projects and I promise to keep you up-to-date. So email, call, Facebook, and Twitter me away, I'm home and I'm ready:)

Abraham's Oasis

2009-10-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

I've been been getting a lot of requests for pics from out here lately and it dawned on me that I haven't really written about what I do for fun after work. Yes folks, I do have fun out here...I'm pretty sure I can make anyplace or situation fun, I'm a Grogan, that's what we do.

Anyway, we decided that it was time to visit Abraham's Oasis. Legend has it that the Oasis is where Abraham and his family drank from during their 700 mile trip from the land of Ur. Surrounded by a lush palm grove, the Oasis's waters are filled with minnows, turtles, frogs, and birds. It's almost surreal to stumble upon it because it's flourishing greenery is in stark contrast to the miles and miles of dirt and debris that border it.

Palm Grove by the Oasis

And that is your history lesson for today, back to our adventure - introducing Sam and Chris:

The man, the myth: Sam Peters

Sam is my friend from work in North Carolina, but he works on another project. If any of you follow my Facebook pics, you'll have seen photos of Sam and the infamous camel spider, right before he squashed the crap out of it. Sorry spider lovers out there, Meg + camel spiders = dead camel spiders, that's just the way I roll.

Back to Sam...Sam enjoys drinking black and tans at the Irish pub in Swansboro, wing night at the rotorhead chowhall, and dome houses, not necessarily in that order. Sam is always down for an adventure.

The notorious Chris Jones

Chris Jones is my buddy that normally works on the west coast, but out here we are one team one fight. I like to yell his name out like the rap songs featuring Mike Jones. "Chriiiiiiis Jooooones" I yell, it makes me giggle everytime. Chris enjoys fishing in the Wadi, spending time with his family, and pancake eating contests.

Back to the adventure to the Oasis...At the Oasis I made the most amazing discovery. Fish, turtles, and frogs, much like humans, love White Chedder Cheez-It's. I am not really sure why I was surprised by this, Cheez-It's are fantastically delicious it's no shocker that wildlife would come to the same conclusion that humans do. Below are some pics of us feeding the animals, don't worry they didn't bite.

Sam feeding the fish

I'm feeding the fish

and Chris is feeding the fish

No blog would be complete without photos of the happy customers, so I'll leave you with photos of the fish, turtles, and frogs. Tune in next week to find out more about how my coworkers thought it would be funny to sell me to the Ugandan gate guards for 100 heads of cattle.