Fitting in with the locals in five steps:

When I travel I really do enjoy fitting in. Not just for some image of what cool is, but more so that I can understand a city's true offerings to my specific age range/style (twenty-something artist type with a passion for the cheap and delightful!) Not to mention that I am always willing to move somewhere for jobs/school in the future and I want to be able to assess whether or not I could do that in a quick trip.

I just got back from Philly and I managed (in a short amount of time) to do just that. I travel frequently enough on my own that I have developed a formula that keeps me happy and makes the most of my time. Even my Philadelphian friends were impressed at all of the things I had found on my own! Five easy steps:

1. Buy a (relatively up to date) Not for Tourists Guide everytime, end of story.

2. Read Readymade? Make note of when their 'Place Setting' column travels to a place you would love to go. Always keep your RM mags though, the RM website is not at all archive friendly. Xerox a copy of the article and carry it around with you for reference.

3. Check Design*Sponge for a city guide to wherever you are traveling! Again--print it out, carry it with you. This is the part of the advice column where I tell you to keep a travel folder in your bag to put your articles/business cards/etc from your day.

4. Keep your eyes open! This sounds like common sense but be open: If you are in a neighborhood picking out a restaurant and you love to ride bikes, look for the joint with the most awesome bikes outside! How about following your nose? (OMG Il Cantuccio thankyou for the best sensory advertisement we have ever witnessed, my taste buds still thank you) Heading to somewhere specific and see something along the way that trumps it? Go there instead! We never would have found National Mechanics if we had stayed on our original path to find the 'best philly cheesesteak.' (Read: Did I eat one cheesesteak this weekend? No. Did I eat in a delicious gastro pub that looks like eggplant-colored-dusty-terrarium-stocked-anthropologie-church on the inside? Yes I did. Did I mention that NM has a monthly event wherein a Scientist comes into drunkenly lecture on his/her area of study while you drink? Next Science on Tap: "Bacteria." I am pretty sure this is what winning looks like.)

5. This last one is a preparation measure, but keep a 3 ring binder divided by city to put random articles and advice from others in for your next trip. I have LA, Milwaukee, and Denton Texas ready to go and on the flight home I read a fantastic article about seeing Morocco that I will be adding as well, a gal can dream can't she?

Happy traveling!

When great minds collide..

..beautiful things happen!

SM had a fantastic opportunity for collab with Joy Thigpen and the brides'-blog-to-beat-them-all, Oncewed last year to push the boundaries of vellum and this is how it went!


Oddly enough, Emily visited my flickr account and found my previous window dressing portfolio for shopSCAD and an image from the past that sold her on my abilities with paper! So, always document your work folks--you never know when it will come in handy!

So in honor of our upcoming month of showers, today's image of the day is brought to you by April Showers windows from shopSCAD circa 2007:

Philadelphia here we come!

Well today I am packing for SGC!

Awesome stormtrooper image posted just yesterday on Printeresting, looking forward to their Copy Jam reception!

Not quite sure what I am in for but I know it is going to be filled with exciting open portfolios, exhibitions, some sweet jail time, and very importantly visits with friends!