Kristin Cofer - Design That Kills

This week, Richard Wayne and I purchased our first piece of furniture, an adorable mid century inspired couch.  This means you can now come visit us and not have to sit on the floor!

Mandie Bee was a darling and sent me a new super spy dress, which I have already worn and love as well as a polka dotted purse, which is all I am using to carry treats to work.

If you’re looking for some visual stimulation, my favorite online rag, N.E.E.T. magazine, has their new winter issue online now!  Also, Modcloth has a cute holiday gift guide for every type of person on your list!

Every day I come across many different artists, designers, and illustrators, and one in particular I’ve developed a design crush on is Tori Higa and her lovely greeting card work.

We decided that one of us should join the fabulous wardrobe_remix and that one will be the ever so stylish Richard Wayne, who Tricia Royal posted as a remixer of the week!

Some new blogs I’m adoring are the art, design, and music thoughts of my dear friend Erica and a great design blog, FormFiftyFive, that just posted a cool website all about designing with the grid system.

I love this image from FFFFound! so much.

The always charming, Nubbytwiglet, posted a great article on learning more about graphic design, as well as a link to free type desktop wallpapers! Also, if you visit the Urban Outfitters homepage, for a limited time they are giving away a free year subscription to NYLON magazine, wow!

The folks at Veer have created an application called, “The Face Builder”, where you can insert your face and instantly have a new haircut,  a mustache, or even an eye patch! And this fun list from Poppytalk, 101 Reasons to Buy Handmade.

This weekend Richard Wayne and I are heading up to Sacramento to photograph a fashion show with new designs by my friend Trisha from Pretty Trashy.  Saturday is haircut therapy, and then Sunday is a 70s glam inspired photo shoot with my talented hair and make-up friend, Amithyst.

What is currently inspiring you? Do you like or loathe the holiday season?

Hugs and Hisses,
Kristin

Photo shoots photo shoots photo shoots, can’t stop thinking about photo shoots! Some other things consuming this brain are, the ladies of Twin Peaks- I caught a terrible virus and for four days all I did was watch this television show, I finally know who killed Laura Palmer! Now that I am back at work, not only is the theme song stuck in my head, but I have a crush on Agent Cooper and the fashions of the Twin Peaks ladies.

“For all the musicians crafting grimy, lo-fi electro-rock, the man behind Blank Dogs takes it to another level, because it feels like he means it.” [The Wire] Another Brooklyn band from Mark, he sure knows my musical tastes, The Blank Dogs. Download two of my favorites, “Freezing Styles” and “Leaving the Light On”.

Other visual treats include the styling, photography and fashion design of Bea Szenfeld. The way bardot charming dresses on a daily basis, a model and a crocodile, Roald Dahl-themed photoshoot by Tim Walker for British Vogue December 2008, found via galadarling.

These shoes are my current favorites, as well as this femme fatale trench from modcloth- The search for inspiration continues- new fall days, moments, potential creations brimming inside these fingers and lens.

presents for your eardrums: my dear friend mark, from unpiano sent two brooklyn bands that i am enjoying (and now you can too!)  the crystal stilts and vivian girls dance and enjoy-

another photographer to admire, alex prager who also makes me want to just quit- her images are conceptually beautiful and the subjects moving.

other special things include, one of my friends and recent model, liz liles, is featured in a pretty and user (fun) online zine, zinette

i am really loving, iheartnorwegianwood’s harness designs, such a unique and cool idea! plus, she sent me one to photograph, can’t wait, just need the right light and mode!l

i daydream about film and a mamiya camera, wanting to create some new images that move, feeling close, but not quite there yet- life is full, but there is stil so much to do, see, make, experience, sometimes i am overwhelmed just thinking about it!

oh october, i am so glad you’re here.

from the selby, the “i love david” book by harry malt

san francisco mixed media, videographer, and photographer, piper print factor’s beautiful portfolio

from the ever so lovely nubbytwiglet, printable, usable vintage poison labels!

from ffffound! a patrick nagel image that i can’t resist

and favorite fashion images of the week from oh joy!, ffffound! and this is glamorous

other daydreams and musings include, making a conscious effort to work on posture, these red back seamed stockings, finding the perfect kitchen table, this black doily vector, and general happiness, home cooked indian dinners, and joy with my partner in crime, richard wayne, who on tuesday moved here from the east!

may your weekend be filled with relaxation, coffee in bed, puppies, love and things that are inspiring and good.

♥

the most recent artist interview was done by richard wayne- who is my honey, resident david bowie expert, prince impersonator, and partner in crime.

together, we are working on a secret bonnie and clyde design operation (to be unveiled in november) and below is our first collaboration, a poster for our friends the agent ribbons girls.

agent ribbons is banned in the UK and there is a really great article about them in this week’s SF weekly along with a photo by me!

this week i am one tired design darling, all i have been doing is photo shoot, design, photo editing, design, work and repeat! (no wonder my vision is going bad!) to survive, i inhale coffee and listen to nick cave loud on headphones-

sunday i drove two of my favorite models, baby dee and alexandra up to sacramento where they posed, my friend jonathan did hair and make-up and i photographed some beautiful high fashion images- it was a long day full of giggling, visiting an amazing vintage clothes shop bows and arrows (and borrowing some beautiful clothes), listening to loud dance music, and eating in-n-out french fries late while driving back to the bay area-

i’m in nesting mode since richard wayne moves here from the east coast next tuesday- i want this black faux fur duvet cover and daydreaming about these suede shoes! the next months all i think about is hiding out, working on my book project, and creating more beautiful art-

i am in lust with my new red patent leather steve madden mary janes,
they are dreamy on the eyes and feets-

the talented swiss graphic designer vectortrash posted his final version of Kiki Bomb, it’s gorgeous-

nubby has an upcoming show, black & white graphic insight definitely check out her beautiful black and white collaged pieces- she has a variation of styles and sizes for every taste and budget.

lisa marie was and her rocker man, hang jones, are in nashville, check out her amazing photos here!

an interesting phenomenon in the electronic fashion blog world, lookbook.nu is a self proclaimed, “international social expriment in style inspired by fashion blogs and “what are you wearing today?” forums.”

i can’t believe some people really look that amazing every day AND have time to take an equally incredible photograph. ever wonder why i don’t post photos of myself very often? because i’m so vain about photographs now (except when i play with the macbook photobooth, but that doesn’t count.) they have to look a certain way and have a certain perfection about them, or i just can’t do it- half the time i will post an image of myself and delete it an hour later- (oh the curse of being both an artist and a graphic designer-)

found on oh joy! artist kent rogowksi who “takes ordinary teddy bears have been turned inside out and re-stuffed so each animal’s appearance is created by little intricacies of the manufacturing process.”

i want one! please please! i’ll be a good girl! (promise.)

can’t believe i missed one of my very favorites NICK CAVE and the bad seeds play in san francisco, oh the sadness- but i did enjoy looking at the photos that photographer leila-anne posted of this beautiful and amazing creature.

and for your enjoyment on that note, please click here to enjoy nick cave singing, do you love me?  (do you?)

i have had a design crush on graphic designer and artist eduardo recife for years and was pleasantly surprised to see this statement about him in my electronic inbox ,

“The ominously named Misprinted Type foundry has recently released a series of outrageous, incongruous, schizophrenic yet adorable all-caps display fonts. HandMade is the most successful of the lot, but LeKing is pretty awesome, too. Designer Eduardo Recife must have scanned every ornamented alphabet he’s come across, and possibly invented some of his own as well, combining single letters into fonts that immediately define a style. The atmosphere is somewhere in-between dilapidated-mansion melancholic and thrift-store whimsical.”

yum!  i can’t wait to purchase them for myself-

this week i started working for a really fun greeting card company, in which i have been doing research on card design and discovered this designer, float paperie- her typography is stunning!

my clothing designer loves of the moment are bb dakota and ec star. if i could buy everything of theirs from lulus or modcloth, i would be a more fashionable and happy lady.

for the ears, check out miracles of modern science, pop music made by musicians in spacesuits!

“Using mandolin, violin, cello, standup bass, and drums, Miracles of Modern Science create an epic and inventive brand of music that can simultaneously be classified as futuristic pop, antebellum balladry and sea shanty singalong.”

i’ve also been dancing around to the sounds of parisian music makers, thieves like us and yes, my ear candy song of the week is, “shut up and let me go” by the ting tings- it’s so fun and bouncy, an instant car dance hit!

another eyeball treat to check out is the launch of my dear friend vinny’s new art and design website, Mudchicken it is worth a look or a bookmark.

i was in pennsylvania last weekend and was inspired by east coast trees and vintage taxidermy that is so affordable at their antique stores!  also while visiting, i toured the andy warhol museum, and had a delicious lunch and conversation with the man behind their marketing- and while driving all over the green, tree filled, humid state heard nick cave beautifully cover, neil young’s “helpless”-

on the plane i could not put down, vanity fair’s 25th anniversary edition, which features an article about the marilyn monroe files.

this girl is so photography, art, and design inspired- sometimes i wish sleep wasn’t necessary and i could design doll all day and night! dreaming of art and photographing your face-

♥ drooling over new york fashion week images of the new marc by marc jacobs collection-

♥ living the vampire lifestyle, much like the kids in my favorite film, the lost boys, complete with 80s soundtrack- in which i am up until four or five in the morning photo editing, designing- and then sleep until noon or later, work and repeat.

♥ yesterday i photographed my first real agency model at a catalog photo shoot that i was hired to shoot! i am beyond ecstatic and in post production land right now- sharpen, levels, tweak, save as .tif and repeat repeat repeat.

♥ life feels amazing, and there is just so much to create and do, obsessed with designing a photography book from blurb.com

♥ tomorrow i fly east to visit my honeys and the pennsylvania countryside! i look forward to spooky east coast trees, the andy warhol museum, and taking a vacation from real life, california.

♥ came across an amazing english photographer, ren rox by chance. it’s been a while since i’ve been photography inspired and her images are worth an eyeball peak or ten.

♥ still obsessed with LouLou’s gigantic bows, the madonna inn, studying photography lighting, jessica-m’s illustrations, finding the perfect red soled high heels, johnny thunders, and daydreaming about chihuahuas, scarves and pumpkin weather.

i have decided my fall/winter look is going to be inspired by frilly blouses, gloves, stockings and pencil skirts. how is that different from what i already wear? well, i suppose it is not so much, but i want to look like the above image every day! oh fashion, i love and hate you. i should just design for shoes. can i?

so many items to drool over, i am so looking forward to cooler weather, the san francisco indian summer heat is destroying me! oh to wear coats and opaque stockings again, i can’t wait!

bb dakota is designing some brilliant pieces- look at this beautiful red empire waist jacket and this plaid dress, the vintage inspired designs are gorgeous, i must have it all!

american apparel creates my favorite opaque tights and i am so happy to have a retailer where sheer back seamed pantyhose are easily accessible.

not rated shoes have some really cool new designs, i just purchased these which i can’t wait to wear with colored tights and coats!

i am so happy that gloves are currently popular! last year i purchased these amazing full length leather ones, pictured on me here, taken in new york by burlesque photographer don spiro-

but oh i am dreaming of these material girl gloves from modcloth!

and i cannot stop drolling over lou lou’s panties and huge bows and the feather hair charms from charmschooldesigns over on etsy.

as far as girls to adore, check out these lovelies, all seen from wardrobe_remix and in my flickr favorites- oh nubby, you are my dream design darling

and marie, you don’t know what you do to me with those lips and fishnets- you also got me obsessed with wanting to visit the madonna inn in san luis obispo.

iheartnorwegianwood yu have most adorable hair.

and dear, white-apple, this outfit and photograph is amazing.

to end this fashionable post, some girl porno, men with puppies, or hang jones, my dear lisa marie’s husband, with wilfredo, san francisco artist, lisa congdon’s chihuahua. oh my.

i have a new favorite electronic shop lou lou loves you a sweet heart filled lingerie and bow emporium out of the UK. today i purchased my first hair/brooch bow and am excited to receive and adorn it! also expect an interview with loulou, a crimson haired beauty and mastermind behind the emporium soon!

found this etsy seller, the black apple from another dear one, am in lust with this image-

i would do anything to hug a giant bunny rabbit! the latest issue of N.E.E.T. magazine is here again and like always, someday i hope to be able to photograph anything for my favorite electronic fashion rag.

in honor of my grandmother’s passing, i am listening to flamingo’s radio on pandora radio, currently frank sinatra is spinning, which makes me think of her in the kitchen, singing, “i left my heart in san francisco-” which was her favorite old blue eyes tune-

since i am the graphic design girl in the family, i was given the job of creating her funeral program- which is both an honor and difficult- but it did allow me to scan a bunch of old grandma photographs, see below what a glamour darling she was and you can see where i get my tastes!

in the world of flickr, motionid inspires me daily- in which this week i photographed christopher salon with nothing but my 50mm lens and available light!

and in daydream photography land, check out canon’s new creation, EOS Canon 50D, which someday will be mine.

i am so ecstatic for future photographic projects, including a new photo shoot with my old friends the agent ribbons girls, who contacted me again and are currently on tour in the UK, in which i hope they can meet the darling loulou-

my honey is on a creative roll and drew this adorable mustache graphic, in which we went and designed 4X6 postcards, i can’t wait to see them!

i miss my grandma, but i am happy that she can be in peace now, and i like to imagine death is like the end of the movie, “the big fish” and she can be young again, somewhere beautiful with my grandfather and all their friends, dancing to swing music, smoking a cigarette and wearing high heels. i will always love you grandma, you influenced me so much, every day when i get dressed i look at a photo i have of you as a young woman and try to emulate your style- thank you for giving me a love for all things classic and pretty.

i hope everyone is enjoying their monday off and being productive, i am living in photo edit land, i have the hair salon shoot to finish, a wedding i photographed last weekend to look at, go go girls to do final tweaks to, and a jazz singer’s album design to finish, busy lady! (but that is how i like it) looking forward to a week of beginnings and new clarity. it’s time to live and create all these things i dream about.

xo.