Speachless

There is nothing about Coldplay that doesn't make me swoon. We even utilized their talents for our wedding song. Yes, it is that serious.

Then this morning I saw this, and I think I am even more in love.



There is nothing about this video I don't love. The song, that piano, the Elvis characters playing violin.

Swoon.

Download "Christmas Lights" here.

{image cred: Coldplay}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Not Into It

OK, pretty much every morning I walk into my friendly neighborhood Starbucks and while I wait, ever so patiently, for the newest barista to ring me up I take notice to the album art up near the register.

This particular album has been driving me nuts for about two weeks now.

Today I just couldn't take it anymore. I coyly placed this album behind the rest and then my typography nerves rested a little easier.

Now, hear me out. I adore Miss. Swift. This is in no way an attack on her upbeat crazy catchy tunes, or her crystal clear persona. This is a "there is your sign" moment for these designers.

I love the back, the textures are executed beautifully and I envy their mad skills here. The front, I have issues with. Miss. Swift has been rocking that curly cue logo for quite some time now. It is pretty much iconic as far as country music goes these days. The logo stands. So why in the WORLD would you pair that logo with yet another, hand drawn font. Kill me. I can't take it. My eyes are literally having a wtf moment. They have no idea where to go. So today, I allowed my eyes to rest, and politely put the album behind a more appealing one. 

Miss. Swift, great album, love the songs. Next time, make sure your design team has conflicting aesthetics. Your album artwork will be better for it.

I feel much better now.

{image cred: The ST8MNT Blog}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Album Art

During my morning Starbucks run, I saw this beauty at the register. The type treatment really caught my eye, and I am seriously loving it. The textured background is an added bonus. It's nice to see a country album not have a picture of a tractor on it. In other words; Zac Brown Band, don't abandon this designer, they make you look good, real good.

{image cred: Yoygle}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

P.S. If you know this designer/calligrapher can you let me know? I would love to see more of their stuff!



Gloomy Day, Go Away

I was feeling rather morose this morning, with all the gloomy skies here in central VA. Once in a while it is nice to just sit, be gloomy and think. You know, think into those deep dark cavities of your mind you only visit on occasions such as gloomy days. Well one thing led to another and I found myself pensive in the works of The Hub's favorite musical showcase - Brand New. I got a little too into it, and started reading some lyrics. "Sowing Season," the first song off the bands third album The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, is actually quite pensive. I never realized just how methodical Jesse Lacey really is. It makes me want to dig further. I can officially say, "Hey Babe, I get it, and I may love them as much as you do, but for different reasons."

But getting to the design bit of this post...

The purpose of referencing the song is that the talented Mr. Lacey "laced" (haha no pun intended) the song with a poem from the iconic Rudyard Kipling (yes, the guy that wrote the Jungle Book). After doing a little researching I found the poem, and it's quite inspirational. It was enough to lift me out of the morose spirit I have forced myself into today. AND on top of that I found an amazing image I am going to have to have. It needs to hang in my home. No joke. This girl graduated from college the same year I did, I need to track her down, tell her she is way talented, and buy this print from her. I have to.

I know, I know it is a little difficult to read, which is why I am providing you a copy of the poem, word for word right here:

If

If you can keep you head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master,

If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Just wonderful! And not to mention the typography in that print. That is a long poem. Therefore that is a daunting task that was not easy. I don't even want to think about the technical aspect of that piece. I also appreciate the pink, it helps to break up such a text heavy piece. It gives the eye somewhat of a rest. It's beautiful and once again, I have to have it!!

There you go, just a little pick me up and some inspiration. Oh and if you have never heard that song before, download it! You are in for a treat!

{image cred: Trysten Ursula Coblenz}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee