Pretty Pattern

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Art, Decor, Pattern 3033 Views

I am seeing some pretty patterns in our new apartment–especially the more abstract ones. Maybe I’ll try DIYing some bold art. That sounds like a fun weekend project to me. I did read decorating with big oversized things like artwork and rugs in smaller apartments make the room seem larger. Have you heard anything like that?

Velveteen endpaper VELVETEEN RABBIT (1922) William Nicholson via Fox on the Run
Mauve Splashes by Eloise Rapp
Ashley Goldberg
Floral Explosion by Amy Sia
Knit in the Sun by Schumacher

Seems Impossible

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Art, Etsy, Inspiration, Poster, Quote, Typography 2942 Views

Vapor Qualquer

I was talking with my friend over dinner last night about how we both seem to a bit overwhelmed and a little worn out by everything going on in our lives. We both have a lot on our plate right now. When that happens I usually have a hard time functioning. There is too much to do so I can’t do anything until I feel like I have a plan. Thankfully Jake knows how I get, so after dinner we came home and made a list and prioritized everything. It still seems like a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time, but maybe, just maybe, it’s possible.

We’re Moving!

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Apartment, Dogs, Home 1831 Views

Remember last week when I told you we were going to look at a townhouse? Well, I have exciting news. Today after work we are signing the lease! We are so excited. The best (and most amazing) part is that our best friends are signing the lease for the unit right next door! We always joked around about how fun it would be to be neighbors, but never really actually thought that would be possible until we found this apartment with two openings.

When we started looking for a new place we knew we wanted an upgrade from our current apartment, and it had to allow full sized dogs. We’ve had our hearts set on a dalmatian for a long time but most apartments in LA only allow smaller dogs. However, at this new place they said we could have a dalmatian! The townhouse really is perfect for us. It’s 2 bedrooms 2.5 baths and has a little patio garden outside of our living room with an amazing view of the mountains. It is also walking distance from Trader Joe’s, the local farmer’s market and even our church. Did I mention it has a gas fireplace? I think we are going to be pretty happy in this new place. I’m so giddy though that I’m having a really hard time focusing on work. I think I spent all last week just planing out where I’m going to put everything and how I’m going to decorate. This week I really need to focus on getting some things done.

Once last thing. Now that we know we can start looking for a dalmatian, Jake and I have started thinking of names for him. We haven’t thought of anything we love yet. I put our current list on our Facebook page. If you have any ideas we would love to know.

Finders Keepers: A Kerning Game

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Finders Keepers, Typography, Website 1576 Views

Look what I found this week, a kerning game! Ok maybe that’s a little nerdy, but it’s actually a lot of fun. The website gives you a word and then you move around the letters until you think it is properly kerned. Then it compares yours to the correct one and gives you a score. You can play it here

Hint: My graphic design professor alway told me it helps to squint. That way you aren’t paying so much attention to the letters but more to the spacing.

Flag Trivia

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post California, Design, Video, Who Knew 1167 Views

One of the coolest things about Jake working on Who Knew is that he learns a lot of random, cool facts about anything and everything. Today the episode is about flag trivia. You won’t believe this but California’s flag (which currently has a bear on it) was supposed to instead have a pear on it!!! The designer misread bear as pear when we was making it. Can you believe that? It seems we were meant for each other. Who knew? I guess back then there was no such thing as a revision process.

Photo by Brian Wilkins

You can watch the episode here.

Update: So it turns out that Snopes made up the whole thing just to see how far it would go. The California flag was never supposed to have a pear on it. So much for that.

Dearest Nature

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Blog, Dearest Nature, Nature 1086 Views

A few months ago Donaville from Discover Paper emailed me and told me about a project she had been working on for a while now. She was starting a blog and online magazine called Dearest Nature featuring all things related to the great outdoors. Sounds lovely doesn’t it? But that’s not even the most exciting part. She asked me if I would be a contributor to the blog!!! I’m so excited to tell you that I’m now a regular contributor to Dearest Nature. The site launched yesterday and my first post was published today! I write for the In A Word column where I find a bunch of great nature related things based on a word. My first word was Morning. You can read my post here. And don’t worry, A Pair of Pears isn’t going anywhere.

Oh also Jake and I are going to look at an apartment tonight. We drove by it on Sunday and it’s in really nice area and even walking distance from Trader Joe’s and the Sunday farmer’s market. I’m trying not to get my hopes up. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Wedding Invitation Inspiration

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Graphic Design, Inspiration, Invitation, Paper Goods, Party, Wedding 1418 Views

Over the weekend I got to sit down and talk wedding invitations with my best friend. I love working with her. We have very similar styles, she gives me a lot of creative freedom to design what I think is best, and while we are brainstorming ideas we sometimes get distracted looking at shoes or plaining how we are going to someday be neighbors. It’s a refreshing way to work.

The Save the Dates were sent out weeks ago and now it’s time to move on to the Great Bambino of the wedding design process; the invitations. The invitations are my favorite part to any party, as you can probably tell from this party, this party and this party. Before I start a design, I like to take a look around the internet and browse the work of other designers. It gets me in that creative mindset so I can start thinking about the design I need to do. This time around I came across these wedding invitations. They are all so unique and beautiful, just as every set of wedding invitations should be.

Under Consideration
The Hungry Workshop
Studio on Fire 
Design*Sponge
Oh So Beautiful Paper

I Love My City

Jamie Bartlett Blog Post Design, LA, Los Angeles, Poster 1311 Views

When Jake and I decided we would start our married life together in Los Angeles, we always had it in the back of our minds that when we wanted to have kids or buy a house, we would move out of California (or at least Los Angeles). It wasn’t until about a month ago that I really started loving California. I heard that it takes a person about 6 months to adjust to a new city. It took me a little over a year and a half. Don’t get me wrong, it has beautiful weather and is a wonderful place to live. It just didn’t have that homey feel that I grew up with. I kind of felt like an outsider. Now when I come back from a trip, the city feels familiar. It feels like home. I might just want to stay here forever. LA, I never thought I’d say this, but I love you.

City Print by Judy Kaufmann

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