Earlier this month, color expert Pantone announced the 2009 color of the year -mimosa yellow. The cheerful and energetic shade (PANTONE® 14-0848 to be exact) replaces the 2008 color blue iris and and is inspired by the bright flowers of the Mimosa tree. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® says, “The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance.” Shades of yellow motivate and stimulate creative thought and the color is always an attention getter. Yellow is already being seen in spring/summer 2009 fashion shows and will soon be hard to miss.

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Love it or hate it, the new Pepsi packaging is already in stores. Personally I am a Dr. Pepper drinker, but still love to see image makeovers. Unfortunately this new icon, which took five months to develop, does not impress me. The white band meant to resemble a smile just looks awkward. The can, designed to look sleek and modern, is a little too clean, almost as if its missing something. I’m not the only one who’s disappointed — read what others think in this creativity-online.com article.

The new logo, Pepsi’s 11th for the 110 year old company, was created in response to a decline in sales. But today its no longer about competition with Coke — energy drinks, teas and bottled water seem to be taking over. Along with the redesign of Pepsi there is a new look for Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist as well. Will it all be enough to boost Pepsi’s sales? Will the public love the new look even if designers hate it?

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“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.“ – Carl Sagan

Desktopography’s collection of surreal, nature-inspired images just might bring a little creativity to that computer you spend hours staring at.

Take a look… desktopography.net

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You’ll soon be noticing a change in the weather, but also a change in color. Fall’s top hues like royal lilac and shady glade green are anything but boring. And don’t forget blue iris, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2008.

Visit pantone.com for more information on color trends.

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Even if you know nothing about art, you will find the stunning work of these photographers worth taking a look at. Jen Gotch’s polaroids capture the beauty of everyday objects, while Zena Holloway’s underwater shots show magical imagery beneath the water.

View their portfolios at jengotch.com and zenaholloway.com.

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Need to add a little glamor to your desk? Nantaka Joy’s line of stationary includes sophisticated floral covered notebooks and chic embellished cards. And even staying organized can be beautiful with kraft file folders covered in metallic leaves.

View the collections at nantakajoy.com.

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Be inspired. Here are a couple of sites dedicated to the love of typography…

The name says it all. I love typography features lots of images including handwritten and found type, as well as articles on choosing a font and web typography. Still want more type? Type for you is filled with creative samples and designer interviews.

On a search for the perfect font? You must take a look at the incredible choices at House Industries.

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Launched in 2007 by a senior packaging designer, The Dieline is a great resource for packaging inspiration. The site showcases good-looking bottles and boxes you may already have in your home and some you’d buy just because they look so darn cute. Since customers pick products based on labels (especially when it comes to less recognizable brands) – packaging is an important way to show your brand’s personality. So take a look – The Dieline is filled with products that will definitely attract your attention on the shelves. There is even a category dedicated to environmentally friendly brands. thedieline.com

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Happy July 4th!

Photos from flickr users Chaval Brasil, (Erik) and Philippe Sainte-Laudy.

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Turns out I have been really stressed lately. And although, I may not necessarily feel stressed, the tests do not lie.

The picture has two identical dolphins in it jumping out of the water. A closely monitored study on stress levels revealed that, in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences in the two dolphins. The more differences a person finds between the dolphins, the more stress that person is experiencing.

Look at the photograph and if you find more than one or two differences you may want to take a vacation.

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In the mood for baking? You will be pulling out your apron and KitchenAid mixer after you see these blogs all dedicated to cupcakes and desserts. You’ll find recipes, photos and tips for creating some really delicious desserts.

Cupcake Bakeshop
Bakerella
Milk and Cookies
Tartelette
The Chocolate Gourmand

I can’t wait to try these recipes:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Carrot Ginger Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Carrot Sprinkles
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Yum.

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Recently I attended the annual Arts in the Park Festival in Blue Ridge. The festival showcased local artists with their sculptures, paintings, photographs and much more. An amazing impressionist painter by the name of Larry Smith was one of the many talented artists featured in the show. He just opened a newly constructed art gallery in Norcross, Georgia. Check out his website to view or order some of his breathtaking oil paintings. www.artistlarrysmith.com

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Those of you that read my review of Half a Yellow Sun last month will notice that I seem to have a fondness for books whose titles sound more uplifting than their contents reveal. This is no difference, but an excellent read nonetheless.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the second book by renowned author of The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini. This insightful look into the plight of women in Afghanistan spans the decades of Russian invasion, victory of the Mujahadeen, and the rise of the Taliban. Living up to his reputation for providing a raw look into the lives of the Afghanis, Hosseini delivers his message in prose that is at times poetic and often profound.

Reading this book gave me a greater appreciation for the Afghanis and a stronger resolve that the United States’ humanitarian efforts in the country were much needed, despite the controversy surrounding our military exploits.

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I arrived early for a meeting today (admittedly a rare occurance). Having a few unexpected moments to spare, I wandered by a few shops on the street and came across a sidewalk sandwich board that announced “Free Popcorn!”. Not being one to pass up free anything, much less free treats, I opened the door. I was instantly transported into the best popcorn store (assuming there are others) ever! Murphy’s Popcorn Store is on Church Street in Marietta, Georgia. If you are ever there, stop in. He makes all the popcorn fresh in the store and offers a dozen or so varieties daily. Try the Dill Pickle Popcorn, it tastes far better than it sounds! I left with a bag filled to the brim with bright green stuff (he insists it’s green apple popcorn, but I swear it tastes like a jolly rancher!) mixed with caramel corn. Together, it tastes like a caramel coated apple. It goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere – even a tiny kernel of corn!

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