Things I buy

I spent my last few hours in Los Angeles shopping/looking around on Melrose. Other than a bunch of stuff in Fred Segal, i didn't see much else until i happened upon this fresh little shop called Fitzsu. PLAYSAM from their website:

Playsam products are beautifully designed and finished sleek wooden toys from Sweden. They have been recognized for design excellence by the Swedish National Museum and individuals that appreciate their elegant simplicity and fine craftwork.

Black Q-Tips (I looked for the black toilet paper when in Paris but I didn't find it)

Cards that Boom. This one says Happy Birthday

I love building blocks. These are mini.

The Dunny is from Kid Robot. Love me I'm French

A Bathing Ape Shopping bag and canvas tote bag.

We've been drafted

After a bit of deliberation, we decided to take jump and try something a lil' different. Yes, Our Own Thing has been very good to us and allowed us to run our own show for the past 2 1/2 years but now it is time for (catch word of the year) change.

We've been flirting with ologie for the past year or so when they came to us a few months ago and opened up talks about working more closely together. They liked our experience in real estate branding and our photography portfolio. And just as important, the culture that b and i have (even though we are small) meshes well with their culture. A few back and forths later here we are, official Ologie employees or "ologist" as we are now called.

Who is ologie? They are a branding agency based out of our old town of Columbus, Ohio (no, we can't get away). They have an incredible branding portfolio, great people, a beautiful office, and a lady that makes fresh lunch every day.

Are we moving back to Ohio? We are still working and living in NYC. Our new office will be in Brooklyn's DUMBO. We'll be in there in a couple of months but for the time being we'll be working in ohio (blazey flew out this morning) and at home.

How will we work? Blazey and I both took Senior Designer positions although most of my work will be photography based.

What happens to our own thing? We still own our company but it will no longer act as a deisgn firm. We have some other things planned for it.

How do you really feel about this, bk? Well, this is all brand new and such a big change it will take me a while to really grasp what we did. It will be my first time working for someone else since doing something similar my first few months in nyc (I kept my job in ohio and traveled back and forth almost weekly). I've yet to wake up and go to an office every morning (really saves on the water bill). But I love to travel even if it is back and forth to ohio. I love photography and ologie seems to respect my work. I really want to get out of this home office everyday. I can't wait to work with other designers again. Lastly, the next most important thinthing after being happy, it was a good business move for us (at least that is what we are betting).

Stay tuned. We will soon have a bunch of new things for show and tell…

Ologie's website: ologie.com

Escape from NY (again)

This weekend Blazey, Sonya and I are in Tucson Arizon for Comron's wedding. He and Blazey have been kinda like bffs for since way back when they were youngins. The photos here are from this morning at rehearsal. (yeah, i'm the wedding photographer if you couldn't have guessed already. No, I don't do weddings*)

Put On - Jeezy ft. Yeezy: Hit play this then look at the photos. If i could wear headphones while i shoot tomorrow i would have this on repeat.

[audio:http://wordbk.com/audio/puton.mp3]

Tina is back from her world travels (here for her blog)

* unless your wedding is somewhere I haven't been yet and I can party with you after the first dance.

You say you've never been to brooklyn?

We were not getting in the release party. I stood on the street looking at the red carpet as loren continued to call his boy to get us in. All while i saw a bunch of folks whom i didn't know but are kinda famous - Megan Good, Some dude from project runway ("so fierce" is what blazey and loren just said), those 80's swagger jackers the retro kids (and a few others). Estelle comes up and does her photo thing on the red carpet and about 20 mins later I told loren lets bounce.

But alas, we got a last min hook up from folks close to the estelle camp (home town connection) and we easily slip through. Loren (all sunglassed and fitted new suit out) and i spend $65 for a two shots and 2 drinks so we can meet the tab minimum (i love nyc's prices) and post up. Later Estelle walks past, stops and gives us a few up and down looks points and says something nice about "you two" and continues on. Ahh, finally.

About an hour later she ask Mr. Legend "who are those cats from Springfield?" He introduces us and we hit it off exchange info and agree to hook up when she gets back to NY

Sike about that last part. It's only fantasy.

Speaking of Estelle, listen to one of her better songs over at Marcia's brand new blog teenybooks.com

I Can't Ask For Much More.

This is my dream trip for the end of summer. Most know my girl (not girl girl but homegirl girl - her blog here) is in Austraila and I don't have much of a choice but to go see her. Mari brought up the idea of making a stop in Fiji on the way home and it got me thinking about hitting up Japan again for a week then going down under. The only problem is, well the problem is the cost. 3k for the flights. How can I be enterprising and make something of this trip?

Model Apartment

Google Sketchup

Zach uploaded Google SketchUp model (here) of his place and it reminded me that i did one around the time of aaron's bday last year. I took exact measurements of our entire place, mapped them in illustrator then imported it into Google's program – all for a house party flyer. Zach said it was mad easy, but I think i got a little in over my head with the detail (wall thickness, exact size of my windows, etc). I couldn't figure out a few things so i gave up. I may have to re-visit it just for fun one day.

1. Kitchen 2. Studio 3. Blazey's Living Room 3.5. Blazey's Bedroom 4a. Shower 4b. Toilet Room 5. My current room-o-stuff 5.25 My Bedroom

chatting with college friends

We graduated from the Visual Communication program at OSU in '03. Gretchen is about to finish grad school and go teach at Kent State (ohio) and Steph (left) is living in North Carolina trying to ward off crazy men.

100 Year Difference.

Check this out. I shot this image a few weeks ago and thought out loud "I wonder how many times this was shot". Come to find out there is an image from 1908 of the same vantage point. The story over on The New Yorker (here)

The Manhattan Bridge, from Washington Street looking West, Brooklyn, June 5, 1908.

Paris: Train ride back to the airport

The train ride home is my favorite moment in Paris.

My New Little Friend Needs a Name.

and i need some help. If you have any ideas let me know (I'd prefer it to be female). Thanks!

Sonya Turns 25

Happy Birthday Sonya!

We spent the evening at the new default birthday spot, Gallery Bar, down in the Lower East Side. Here are the kids:

Lena (her big sis):

Blazey:

Alex:

JT:

Loren:

Ashley:

Rochelle:

Matt:

Megan:

TYFO:

Marcia:

Johnny:

Chelsa:

Peter:

Carmen:

Kelly:

Tara:

Shelly:

Mars:

Bea

Shelly:

Chris:

Eric & Friend:

Natalie:

Snoochie & Boochie:

The Fool on the Hill

Please welcome guest wordbk blogger Marcia Howard:

Magical.

I've used this word a lot to describe the scenes and the sights of Paris. Its like god and man have finally began to conspire together to create supreme moments. The clouds would part, the sun would begin to shine. You walk for hours only to find yourself at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur, on a hill overlooking all of the great architecture of Paris. The air becomes just slightly cooler, a small breeze on your skin. The haze of city and the setting sun turns everything a rich pink, fading into magnificent purples as the sky darkens ever so slightly.

And to top it off, there in the background is a moppy haired boy with a guitar, face as sweet as an angel. Singing "Because maybeeeeee, You're gonna be the one who saves meeeee.And after alllllll, You're my wonderwaaaallllllll."

Wait. What?

Surrounded by a large group of what seems to be a mixture of tourist and 15 year old girls practically screaming along, here amidst the most dramatic scene in all of Paris, is a concert of contemporary alternative music (with the occasional beatles song thrown in so their parents feel a little love as well).

We kept waiting for the memo that maybe Jason Mraz would be up next performing "The Remedy." Followed by Hanson and "mmmmbop"

I'm almost sure that there has to be laws in Paris protecting the architecture of the city. Lots of rules and regulations that prevent developers from walking in and tearing everything down to build monuments to luxury. But where are the laws to protect those moments from being overrun by groups of teenage tourist (a large portion of whom, like the singer, were from spain) singing "Seven Nation Army."

Sitting there staring at the type of scene that nearly makes you weep, your moment stolen by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

During my time in Paris I saw lots of charming street performers. Yeah, they didn't know any John Mayer songs, but seriously who comes all the way to Paris to listen to stand on a hill, watch the sun set and listen to Pop?

I've got two words:

FAIL

- mh teenybooks.blogspot.com

Eiffel at Night

We hopped over to St. Germain for dinner. Apparently it is where all the famous stylish and beautiful parisian women are on a sunday night. It took me 6 days to find them and marcia 13)

How i get around: Superguide

Once again I called on the help of SuperFuture.com's Superguide. Combine it with the Red Maps you can't go wrong. It is the perfect guide for a young wanna-be jetsetter like myself. The newest and hippest stores, restaurants, bars (although the lizard lounge recommendation was kinda off-brand) and sections of town. It highly recommend it if you are heading off for a little trip and want to see and do more than just look at your run-of-the-mill historic sights.

You have to get the Red Map as well though. It's not so good at letting you know exactly where you are at or what subways are near by. It seems like that is a part of the fun though; getting lost and roaming around and discovering some things on your own.

well enough of my advertisement. must get back to packing up and getting ready to head out.

Superfuture's Superguide

Portrait of a Lady

from my big picture blog

Marcia, as seen through my eyes. I believe it will become my definitive portrait of her in Paris.

I had a thought; This may actually be a self portait, using marcia as the sand-in for myself. I'm not one to put deeper meaning to my pictures but this one says so much more than what it shows.

seenthroughmyeyes.com

Blazey Surprises Sonya with a visit to Paris!

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Blazey and Marcia in the streets of Paris

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Blazey & Sonya

Blazey told sonya they were going to San Francisco for the weekend. SIKE! I know, i know, blazey is awesome and incredible and you wish your boyfriend would do the same. Marica also had no idea he was coming. She thought we were meeting up with my two gay friends from ohio. It was fantastic.

women and their hair

Marica needed some product for her hair. Good thing I only use natural juices and berries.

day-1-2.jpg

A beautiful Day in Paris

red light special

In the red light district

Mol you should be looking at the view of paris

Top of the Sacre Coeur basilica.