The Original Design Gangsta

Apparently, I'm the last person to hear about Kyle T. Webster's hilarious Design Gangsta video (at least according to my students). Of course, my students would do just about anything to avoid working on actual class projects, but they are well versed in design a la pop culture. At least they get the humor. But, Kyle, man, did you vertically stretch the Rosewood that rolls past the Mini? Shamies, you crazy gangsta.

Democratic National Convention Goes Green

Evidently, the 2008 Democratic National Convention will be "the most environmentally-sustainable Democratic Convention in history," with delegates challenged to purchase carbon offsets in order to feel good and compete for a "green" prize. Although, I think that carbon offsets are a bit of a boondoggle, I am encouraged that the Dems are at least taking some sort of environmental stand. And, kudos, to Denver-based graphic designer Kristi King for specing 100 percent post-consumer recycled chlorine-free paper for all DNCC printed materials.

A Simply Perfect Design

I just read Michael Bierut's lovely essay on the Brannock Foot Measuring Device. What a glorious example of artfully packaged functionality: it's sleek, modern and contains type on a curve that is entirely appropriate. Plus, isn't there something highly charged and seductive about having someone remove your shoe and cradling your foot in the Brannock Foot Measuring Device? I have vague memories of getting my feet properly measured as a child/young adult; it made the whole shoe shopping experience so personal and special. But, then again, I cannot tell a lie: I do have a slight shoe fetish.

Recipe for a Perfect Mother's Day

1. Have yummy tea cake for breakfast (make night before). I made this very simple carrot tea cake (courtesy of Martha). I did make one small alteration: just couldn't resist doing a drizzle of orange cream cheese glaze (mix a little softened cream cheese, some confectioner's sugar and fresh squeezed o.j. until drizzle-able).

2. Spend some quality beauty of nature time with the family. A day at the beach is even better if it's chilly and overcast, because it will be more serene.

3. Have a professional make you a really lovely coffee drink. If you are on the Central Coast where great coffee is not exactly in abundance, you can try Joe Mama's at Avila Beach: fantastic view and a fabulous latte.

4. Don't try to accomplish anything other than a manicure for the rest of day. Yee ha, now that's what I call a perfect day.

I hope all you moms out there had a great day. And, Mom, I hope you had your very own delicious latte in the sky (a life of faithful mass attendance should guarantee a heavenly barista).

200 Monster Drawings

I just discovered the happiest site ever. It showcases the work of Stefan G. Bucher, who has posted 200 videos of him drawing these fabulous little monsters. The banjo intro and adorable drawings will give you a reason to smile and procrastinate (just a little) while at work.

Messiest Beauty Treatment on Earth

It's challenging to be pregnant is the contemporary era. Gone are the days of lounging about in one's maternity caftan, martini in hand, cigarette artfully perched between one's red manicured nails. Those halcyon days have been replaced by the age of fear and guilt—raw milk cheese, runny yolks, almost any fish, all manner of salumi, a thimble full of wine, and worst of all, many beauty treatments: strictly forbidden. How's a girl supposed to get her glow on with three months of re-growth showing?

For a natural, safe alternative to chemical hair processes I turned to my favorite and most trusted purveyor of "fresh handmade cosmetics": the always reliable Lush. I had remembered reading about their "completely natural and safe," yet ridiculously messy and time-intensive hair hennas (also called, no lie, Les Cacas) in the Lush Times.

Okay, so I consider myself to be rather intrepid when it comes to in-home beauty treatments, and I was determined to give Les Cacas a chance. The first step involves chopping up some chunks of the henna (it looks like a chocolate bar, but smells like wet hay and green tea), mixing with water (or, in my case, coffee—Illy, no less) and heating in a double boiler until it's the consistency of yogurt. Lush has an entire customer forum devoted to Les Cacas, which I highly recommend reading for useful tips and additives (this is where I learned that mixing the henna with coffee leads to a richer brown).


When Les Cacas is bearably hot, one slathers it throughout the hair. It's a bit like piling mud on your head and trying to get it evenly distributed. Then, cover the big mess with a plastic shower cap and go about your business for the next, oh, five or six hours (again, no lie). When you just can't stand it any longer, remove shower cap, behold the hideous pile of dirt that is your hair with the dried-on Cacas (they don't call it Cacas for nothin'), partially fill a tub, let hair soak until the mixture starts to soften. Then take a shower and rinse and rinse (use lots of conditioner and then end with shampoo) until water runs clear. Les Cacas makes an enormous mess; the difficulty of both the application and removal process cannot be understated.


But the results: total hair perfection. I did my first Les Cacas experiment about six weeks ago. I could not believe how fantastic my hair looked, felt, and behaved after the whole henna adventure. I suspect this is due to the high content of cocoa butter, which is used to bind the henna. In the interest of full disclosure: henna definitely does not have the grey coverage of chemical coloring (greys turn a much lighter, golden shade), but I found the brunette shade that I achieved with Caca Brun to be the richest, most natural-looking brown ever. I am now a complete henna disciple and actually look forward to continuing experimentation and concoction of various henna mixes in my kitchen. The whole process is complete madness, yet seems very ancient and earthy. I can totally envision Nefertiti or Cleopatra lounging all day eating peeled grapes while having a conditioning henna treatment.

Iain + Artist Series: Joe Biel

One of the few perks of working in academia is being able to invite one's friends and/or creative idols to come to campus as visiting artists. I would have to classify the wildly talented Joe Biel as both friend and creative idol. Man, can Joe draw. His work is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing, strangely bleak, yet always tinged with humor. In person, Joe is hilarious and completely down to earth—totally unassuming given his talent, impeccable taste, brilliant imagination and ridiculously comprehensive knowledge of art. He defies the model of aloof, obnoxious, egomaniacal, too-cool-for-school artist. In addition, he's an ace at drawing old school Ironman, so he's always welcome in Iain's art studio.