the mehallo blog. beta.

Calendar of Silly Holidays 2010

Posted on December 30th, 2009 by steve

3-color screen printed calendar by dirtybandits. Info and ordering details here.

Tags: art, cool finds, design, illustration // 3 comments . . .

An ode to the book arts

Posted on December 30th, 2009 by steve

‘3000 photographs (-ish), 35 books, 2 months’

The Complex of All of These, written by Abigail Uhteg, was letterpress printed at the Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY.

Music by Ratatat.

Tags: cool finds, education, publication design, typography // 2 comments . . .

42-line Rare Book Calendar 2010

Posted on December 30th, 2009 by steve

I always forget to get a calendar. And it’s already the 30th.

Here’s one: The 2010 42-line Rare Book Calendar features images from Hogarth (1753), William Blake (1793), Charles Le Brun (1806), an 1805 edition of Shakespeare and more. Info and ordering details here.

Tags: art, cool finds, design history, illustration, publication design // Comments Off on 42-line Rare Book Calendar 2010

Judging books by (ugly) covers

Posted on December 30th, 2009 by steve

‘Gradually, I realized that the books I had put off reading for so long all had covers that screamed: ‘Pulp me! Pulp me!”

Joe Queenan looks at Huckleberry Finn, Elijah Wood (pictured, with Courtney B. Vance), Gatsby, Doctor Faustus, Death of a Salesman – and how a BAD cover design can ruin a perfectly good book.

NYT essay here.

What to do about an ugly cover: 1. Brown bag it; 2. Reverse it; 3. Try spandex; 4. Use house paint; 5. Duct tape it; 6. Tear it off

Tags: design history, publication design, thoughts // Comments Off on Judging books by (ugly) covers

Woods and Manson

Posted on December 29th, 2009 by steve

Elijah Woods and Shirley Manson for Oliver Peoples Spring 2010 campaign. Photography by Autumn de Wilde. Article here.

Tags: cool finds, design, fashion, photography // 3 comments . . .

Dumbest quotes of the 2000s

Posted on December 29th, 2009 by steve

Hasselhoff: ‘I’ve got taste. It’s inbred in me.’

Bunches more at The Huffington Post.

Tags: design // Comments Off on Dumbest quotes of the 2000s

Alexa Chung: Best dressed 2009

Posted on December 29th, 2009 by steve

Recently, MTV reformatted a quirky talk show – It’s On With Alexa Chung – into a half hour sound byte mess; losing their star in the process. Then they quietly canceled it.

I don’t watch much television these days – because finding something smart on the tube is becoming more and more difficult. And one thing I loved about Alexa’s program: It was smart. It was also silly, goofy, with a host who wasn’t afraid to show that she’s not just a pretty face.

And frankly, we need more smart here in the US.

Importing Alexa from the UK, just part of the plan. (there is a plan, right?)

Luckily, we haven’t heard the last of Alexa Chung – there’s a rumor floating around that MTV has yet another show in development (get it right this time please); and (no surprise) as of last week, Alexa tops Vogue’s 2009 Best Dressed list.

Plus: Here’s some of what she wore on her program – and here’s a blog that simply gets Alexa’s style.

The US knows what to do with talent, right? (anyone??)