Good Reads

Posted March 11, 2012 at 3:17 pm by Sam & filed under Internet.

This is an interesting infogram of cosmetic ingredients that people may want to avoid. While I definitely think it’s good for people to be aware of potentially harmful ingredients, I do think the creators presented the information in a way which implies these chemicals definitely cause harm. It’s super important for consumers to be aware that, with all research, correlation does not imply causation (just because X relates to/can occur with Y, doesn’t mean Y directly caused X to happen). My comment is particularly in regards to the deodorant study: just because use of deodorant increased a lot between 1945 and 2000, does not mean that the increase in breast cancer seen around the same period of time is directly related to deodorant use. There may be other contributing factors. So, exercise caution but you don’t need to freak out and think you might die from deodorant use. Also, let me make it clear that I am not discounting that certain chemicals can contribute to illnesses and in many cases are not that healthy or even useful for people to use.

Check out the stunning home of Borg Mogensen over at Miss Moss.

The blog of Hila Shachar.

Great post about bodies and accepting them while realising we can change them if we want to.

Want to know how a time coach spends her time? Well, check this out. I want to develop something similar that starts my day.

You have to check out a Tumblr which is dedicated to chubby birds! Some of my favourite Fat Birds are this guy and this guy (I don’t know if they are actually guys). Cute, yes?!

And finally, this quote about love from Louis de Bernières that I found on Sometimes Sweet recently is truly beautiful:

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”

Progress-ish

Posted March 6, 2012 at 9:04 pm by Sam & filed under Handmade.

This is a photo of something I’m working on, a practice piece basically. I don’t have really any of the tools I need so I have resorted to regular cotton and sewing needles. It’s a bit more time-consuming and difficult to sew, but it’ll have to do for now.

Last week I went leather shopping at the Lapco showroom and picked up two whole hides plus a scrap of leather (partially seen in the photo). I had a lot of fun shopping and met some great, informative people, including an artists who needed leather to make shrunken head props for a music video. Cool! While I was there I also picked up a bunch of bag-related hardware (D-rings, clips, buckles, rivets) and a sewing tool which will be great for the other two leathers. The leather I’m using in my practice project is soft, a bit stretchy and pretty thin, so a finer needle and thread is necessary.

Today I got to check out my grandfather’s leather work tools. He’s made a couple of horse saddles and lots of other bits and pieces over the years. One of his tools is at least 150 years old and was given to him by an uncle. When I was holding it I couldn’t help but think of all the stories that tool must have, all it has helped make, all it has seen in its lifetime. The generations of use. I think one of the really delicious things about crafting is that it links you to the past. You become a link in that craft’s story, its tradition and where it can go in the future. Crafts link us to our past and they can link us to our future when following generations come along and discover them, continuing them for another moment in time.

Saturday

Posted March 3, 2012 at 6:42 pm by Sam & filed under Daily Life.

Via House of Mirth and Hipsterdom

Today has been delicious. It’s the first weekend in many we haven’t had any going-out plans. We decided to be utterly lazy. We made pancakes and bacon for breakfast with maple syrup and watched a movie while we ate. Then, we went back to bed to read and ended up napping into the afternoon. We haven’t gotten dressed and dinner will be easy.

A weatherbomb was forecast for today with high winds and potentially heavy rain. We got a bit of it but it was nothing too bad, just sudden and fairly short-lived. It’s also been much cooler so perfect for jammies, warm drinks, snuggling and blankets.

Have a delightful weekend, whatever you’re doing. ♥

11 Things

Posted February 28, 2012 at 5:26 pm by Sam & filed under Daily Life, Internet.

While I haven’t been officially tagged by anyone, I really want to participate and start my own little string of this blog meme, so here goes. I’m answering the questions posted by Danielle!

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

1. I like having tidy, manicured nails but I hate, hate, hate doing my own manicures and pedicures. If I could afford it, I would always get them done professionally.

2. Since I moved out of my parents house I don’t eat enough vegetables. Surprise, surprise!

3. I’ve lived in three different cities: Auckland, Christchurch and Gisborne.

4. I was born in Auckland, moved to Christchurch at age 5, moved back to Auckland not long before age 7, moved to Gisborne at 12 and finally moved back to Auckland at 20. I would not live anywhere else in New Zealand (most other places are small towns which terrify me because everyone knows everyone else’s business).

5. I was vegetarian from 13-21, with bouts of veganism at various times. I’m not sure why or what elicited eating meat again and I find it hard to talk about. In some ways I feel like I have ‘let down’ animals, but then I am not convinced I could ever be vegetarian again. That being said, I still enjoy many of the vegetarian and vegan meals I once lived on.

6. I am terrible at remembering to apply sunscreen and this summer alone I have been sunburnt about 5 times on my chest, shoulders and face. I need to work something out so that sunscreen is SUPER obvious around my house so then I might actually remember to put it on.

7. When Josh and I were on vacation in Rotorua last year I discovered my signature alcoholic drink: a Moscow Mule. Vodka, lime cordial, and ginger beer on ice. It’s refreshing and delightful.

8. More than anything in the whole wide world, I want to be a mama. While I can certainly wait to have children so that I am in a better position emotionally and financially, I find the prospect wonderfully exciting and look forward to it very much.

9. I rarely wear high heels, despite owning several fabulous pairs. I value comfort in my everyday wear so flats or tiny heels is how I role…er, walk.

10. I haven’t had my hair cut in over six months and I have absolutely no clear direction of what I want my hair style to be, other than long. Right not it’s just reaching the top of my shoulder blades and the fringe I had has grown out. It’s layered. It’s not a bad cut, actually, but I’m in the mood for something new.

11. I am utterly obsessed with everything black and white, lately. Clothing, accessories, decor, whatever. If I could just eat black and white foods, I probably would. Which would probably mean liquorice and white marshmellows? Gee, what a difficulty that would be.

Questions from Danielle:

1. If money, schooling or time was no obstacle, what career would you choose?
Epic Queen of All Things Design. From furniture, paint colours, wallpapers, other interior design things, to bags, shoes, clothing. I would probably design a car too. And have my fingers in all sorts of design pies and do it all extremely well and I would become filthy rich so I could help other people and animals. I would set up programmes for young people that teach them how to dream and accomplish those dreams. I would spend a year volunteering in the jungle as a primate surrogate mama. And, and, um, yes, that is probably it.

2. What’s the one thing you look forward to every day?
Being productive and accomplishing something, no matter how big or small. I have to remind myself that any productivity is better than no productivity, so I try to consciously appreciate everything I achieve in my day, even if it’s just having a clean kitchen.

3. What is your number one, all-time, favorite blog?
This is touch because I have several go-to blogs for guaranteed good reading. I will go with MissMoss.za if I have to pick. I frickin’ adore Diana and her blog never fails to put a smile on my face.

4. Biggest online pet peeve?
When people use the relative anonymity available to be intentionally mean to others. It’s really sad to witness and I wish people could be kinder to one another. Or just shut up if they don’t like/agree with someone and can’t disagree in a productive, calm manner.

5. What is your all-time favorite book?
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. It’s the first book in a trilogy and the only one I have been able to read more than once. The story is so gut-wrenching, I sobbed most of the way through the second and last books (The Bridge to Holy Cross and The Summer Garden). I got to meet Paullina when she spoke here a few years ago and she is just so wonderful.

6. What would your “last meal” be?
Roast beef and vegetables (potato, carrot, kumara, pumpkin) with a huge Yorkshire pudding, all of it swimming in real beef gravy (not made from a pocket). For dessert I would have something chocolatey and then finish it all off by devouring blueberries and a Honeydew melon. Oh my God, yes.

7. Do you believe in love at first site?
No, but I do think you can be instantly attracted to someone in a way that makes you want to know them as a person, rather than just physically.

8. What would your ideal Sunday morning consist of?
Sleeping in, a delicious brunch – maybe pancakes and fruit – and then reading a good book.

9. Why do you blog?
Because I love it, I like to have a record of my life and thoughts. I used to write in paper journals but for some reason I haven’t been able to for years. Blogging is the only other way for me to save the details that can’t be captured on film. I also like how it can connect you with other people; that is really special.

10. If you had to choose one color to wear forever, what would you pick?
I’d choose black, mostly because I think I’d get sick of other colours faster.

There was no #11. ETA: 11. What is your all-time favorite band?
I’m not sure I could pick an all-time favourite. My tastes and beloveds have changed over the years and my go-to staples are not what they once were. I have to say though, that classic rock bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin hold a huge place in my heart. I grew up on them and I fell in love with them in early teens.

Questions for those I will be tagging:
1. Are you a shoe or bag person, and why?
2. Do you have a favourite kind of outfit?
3. What would your dream home look like on the outside?
4. Is there a film you can watch over and over without getting sick of it?
5. What is one of your favourite things about who you are?
6. What is one of your favourite things about how you look?
7. Assume you have lots of money and can help out a cause/charity. Which cause/charity would it be and why?
8. If you could have any animal in the world as a companion/pet, which would it be and why?
9. What are some things that calm you down when you’re feeling stressed?
10. If you were to invent your own fancy beverage (say, for Starbucks), what would it contain?
11. Burgers or pizza?

I tag: Holly, Loulabel, Jen, and Lindsay, and you, too, if you want!

Naming a business: What I’ve learned so far

Posted February 27, 2012 at 9:41 am by Sam & filed under Everything Else.

If you have ever needed to name a business you will know that it is not exactly an easy task. There are many factors that need to be considered when narrowing down your options and before zeroing in on that Brilliant Name. I’m in the process of finding that gem of a name for my business and thought I would share some of the tips I’ve learned from my research so far.

Essentially a business name should be:

Unique. No other business should have the exact same name and your name should be easy to distinguish from other businesses. I once accidentally called an electricity company, Vector Energy, when what I really wanted was to call an event centre, Vector Arena. This may be an example of my questionable telephone book reading skills, but it’s also really easy to confuse the two when you are flipping through pages in a hurry. A business name should be different enough to set itself apart.

Memorable. By this, experts mean the name should be easy to recall, easy to pronounce, easy to spell, etc. There are many times I have seen a product or business and thought “Oh wow, I should look that/them up later” but then I forget what it/they are called. Most of the time I just don’t bother trying to wrack my brain to remember, unless whatever it was was so outstanding I absolutely have to know more about it. Complicated names are usually best avoided, unless of course it’s unique enough to be memorable. Which is somewhat confusing, so honestly, it’s probably best to go for uncomplicated!

Descriptive. Many businesses should have descriptive names, names that in some way tell the consumer the gist of what your business is about. For example, Vector Energy suggests something to do with electricity or another form of energy whereas Vector Arena suggests an…arena, or centre for events. This is handy when a business offers a very particular service or product that is unlikely to change drastically over time. It makes no sense to keep the name Sally’s Jam and Pickles when the company is mostly producing pasta sauce now. I think this particular point really depends on what you are offering. For example, I’m going to be producing accessories, art, and perhaps some other things in future, so a more general name is wiser because it can (hopefully) evolve with my products and design aesthetics. An excellent example of a brand name that withstood a brand redesign is Red Velvet (part-owned by the lovely Elsie). The brand used to offer a huge variety of handmade goods and was very handmade focused with playful elements. While handmade is still part of Red Velvet today, there is greater focus on their range of vintage clothing, their original clothing line and an overall more sophisticated image.

Easy to spell.This is tied to being memorable, but a lot of experts often list this separately. For good reason too! I have seen many businesses using unconventional spellings, like ‘girlz’ rather than ‘girls’. While this may seem eye-catching and ‘different’ mostly it just makes a business look like they can’t spell and it also means people may find it harder to search online, find in phonebooks, or they may confuse it with a similarly named business. Another point to consider here is that if you use a foreign word in your business name, it may be much harder for people to find you because they are not used to the spelling and pronunciation.

Consider your target consumers. They are the people who will be buying your product or service so you absolutely need to make sure your name reflects the market you are going for. I watched a program once where a women was having her teen-targeted skin care products tested and reviewed by teens. Basically all of the reviewers said the name of the brand sounded unappealing and the brand-design was what “an adult thinks teenagers would like”. In order to cater to your target audience you need to become your target audience: think like them, behave like then, know every last detail about them from their preferred music and clothes to their favourite activities and hobbies. Research your target market thoroughly, especially if you yourself are not part of it (e.g., you’re an adult making stuff for teenagers). Use the information you gather to critically analyse every potential name you come up with to ensure whatever you pick is going to be accepted and maybe even adored by your ideal consumer.

Reflect your business’ personality. Every brand has a personality and it is made up of things like the feelings your brand evokes in consumers, if you’re dedicated to a cause or lifestyle (fair trade, green, organic, etc.), the quality of your product or service, the experience the consumer has with your business and what you offer. This is the emotional part of branding and it’s an important one because people tend to be swayed to go with a company or product that creates more positive feelings over other companies/products. Those feeling are likely to be influenced by other, less emotional factors (price, locality, availability), but in many cases people will choose one thing over and another because it makes them feel better. In short, a brand name should inform consumers of what the company stands for and evoke the positive feelings you want associated with your business.

Is it even available online? It’s all very well having the perfect company name, but if someone else already owns the website domain(s), you’re screwed. It’s like joining a new website and someone already has your desired username: you can either pick a new one or stick a number at the end or underscore in the middle. Which is more awesome? If you aren’t sure, it’s picking a new name that no one else has. I will forever be annoyed that I can’t even use my full name as a .com because there is a French author/film maker of the same name. Not even part of my full name is available! While it might not be as bad as being a Sarah Smith, my name is common enough to prevent my using it in business. This is why I am not opposed to people naming their children Pilot Inspektor and Heavenly Hirani Tigerlily – it is unlikely other people will have those names, so a .com/.whatever is likely to be available if they want to be an online genius.

So, those are the main points to consider when naming your business. Good luck to you if that’s what you’re in the middle of doing! If not, I think it’s helpful for consumers to know these are what businesses consider when selling themselves. It can be handy when making informed decisions as a consumer, so you get the right product or service for you.

As for my own business name, I feel no closer to a winner. I fell in love with a name that has personal meaning for me (Vera Bird) but it’s already taken on Etsy. I don’t want to use WrongDecade because I feel it is too ambiguous, doesn’t leave room for growth, and suggests retro/vintage/antique/non-modern notions which may not always be a part of my business aesthetic. I have never been overly keen to use my full name, mainly because it long and I don’t think very memorable/snappy/eye-catching/awesome (though I like my name as my, well, name).

I like the idea of using family names, particularly of certain members, because of their creative influences in my life, so I am playing with variations based on this idea. I can’t afford to pay anyone to help me with this, so it’s just me, and me asking people I know what they think.

Happy Monday, folks and happy branding. x

References:
5 Critical Rules for Naming a Business
Marketing study notes: Brand Names
How To Pick the Perfect Brand Name
What are the best tips for choosing company names?
Red Velvet’s Dream Job e-course
Biz Ladies column at Design*Sponge

Quiet

Posted February 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm by Sam & filed under Daily Life, Music, Film & Books.

It’s been a quiet week, yet also somehow not. Insomnia has been my fast friend most nights so they are filled with lying in the dark and trying not to think, then getting pissed off at my brain, then reading, then – finally – quiet. Days are filled with housework (it is never ending, is it?), design research, leather research, some socialising, and always sweating from the humidity.

I feel simultaneously productive and utterly lazy. I think I feel lazy because I am not sleeping until the wee hours, wake for about 30-60 minutes while Josh readies himself for work, then fall back asleep until whenever I wake up. There is no routine to my sleep and I absolutely despise it. I think I shall give in tonight and take something so I sleep normally. So I can wake normally tomorrow, refreshed and not like a zombie. So I can feel more productive than lazy.

Also, I have finally started watching Downton Abbey and I’m up to episode 5 of season 2. Holy addictive Batman! It’s just the sort of thing I love (period drama). I adore Sibil, but Mary is my favourite. She may have made some stupid mistakes but I can’t help loving her. I am still not quite over Edith’s betrayal… And how freakin’ epic is Maggie Smith? She always plays the BEST characters that I both despise and adore at the same time.

I hope you are having a decent week, at the very least.

I confess

Posted February 20, 2012 at 1:31 pm by Sam & filed under Daily Life.

1. After my boyfriend leaves for work I steal his pillow. It’s so much better than mine.

2. I don’t particularly like summer because heat is seriously uncomfortable for me. Permanent sweaty forehead? No thank you very much.

3. I just ate two avocado bagels for lunch.

4. I don’t wear PJs to bed, but I own three pairs of PJ pants because that is what I like to wear when I’m at home.

5. I rarely wear the same thing all day. When I’m at home I prefer to wear the aforementioned PJ pants and a singlet or T-shirt and I will change before going out. Then, I will change back into my at-home clothes when I come home (if I don’t have to go out again). My boyfriend finds this irritating, which is understandable, but I will never stop.

Do you have anything you would like to confess? Leave a comment or blog about it and send me the link. I’d love to know what other people are up to!

Good Reads 18/02

Posted February 18, 2012 at 6:41 pm by Sam & filed under Internet.

This interview Gala did with a woman who works for a non-profit during the day and is a stripper by night is fascinating.

Nubby shares some advice for a teen who aspires to be a designer and blogger. I think her pointers are great for anyone wanting to get into those fields, regardless of age.

Sasha wrote a fantastic piece over at Hello Giggles regarding Chris Brown’s appearance at the Grammy awards and why she’s not ok with it.

Here’s a post of nice things over at Miss Moss. I am obsessed with Diana’s blog, she has some of the most well-curated spaces on the internet. I totally have a girl-crush on her and would like to have beer, cheese fondue and bread while discussing art and stylish things.

Valentines made by children are adorable, and these food-themed ones are killing me.

Five tips on how to grow your blog, over at After Nine to Five. Love this post!

Have a great weekend! xo

My big news

Posted February 17, 2012 at 4:33 pm by Sam & filed under Daily Life, Handmade, Mind & Body.

Via

So on Valentine’s Day I mentioned that I have some news to share. Remember how a couple of weeks ago I wrote about my experience with anxiety and also how I wasn’t sure if my current study/career path was what I really wanted to do? Well, since that post my anxiety has been up in the highs (about a 7-10 on a scale of 0-9 with 0 being none and 10 being absolutely worst of worse) and I started to feel really depressed. The last weeks of summer school were painful, and I felt utterly lost and miserable.

Last weekend, with the help of my wonderful mother and boyfriend, I was able to finally make a decision about what to do, what would be best for me right now. I’ve decided to take the next semester off from university and focus on getting my confidence back while also dipping my toes into the world of selling handmade online. Obviously I will also need to find some part-time work in order to pay the bills while I do this, so the job-hunt begins. I’ll also be getting some therapy to deal with my anxiety so that I feel more in control of it and how I react to it.

As for selling handmade, I have a passion for bags and am in the process of designing a few leather styles. I’m not sure on the time-frame of when these will be ready; those details will be planned out more in the coming weeks. I’ll sell other handmade things too. This is, clearly, very new and not every last detail has been fleshed out yet, but let me tell you: I haven’t been more excited about something in a very long time. Not going to lie: it’s scary, however I am actually looking forward to facing those fears and just doing it.