Everyone needs a daily dose of color and pattern inspiration. BigBrightBold inspires and delights through showcasing colorful places, spaces and things.
I definitely miss the grad school days, wandering through Chelsea with camera in hand and photographing found objects. Graffiti sometimes resembles modern art, the right composition evoking the energetic brush strokes of the Abstract Expressionists.
May 27, 2013 
Sometimes the best inspiration is found while viewing something else. These murals were all discovered while walking the High Line.
May 27, 2013 
In addition to the Stationery show, we tried to squeeze in a few sites. Our hotel, the Kimpton Ink, was definitely THE place to stay. The rooftop lounge had the best views of the city. I finally got the chance to check out the Highline, and it was even better than I had imagined. Wandering through Soho, and photographing graffiti, was also a highlight.
May 26, 2013 
Wow! What a week it has been! The National Stationery Show completely exceeded my high expectations. We met with so many extremely talented artists and designers, and walked what seemed to be so many miles, that it might take me another week to recuperate. I even had to buy an "emergency" pair of hot pink sneakers in Soho to keep up the crazy pace. I definitely got behind on any postings here, as the days were filled with meetings and show walking. We mostly skipped lunch to be able to cover all the ground of the convention center in four days!
Suffice to say, there will be tons of upcoming posts highlighting the bright and bold inspiration at the show. We got to visit Surtex and ICFF, though the focus will definitely be on the Stationery vendors. Though I usually try to maintain a minimalist lifestyle, I am a complete hoarder when it comes to brochures, postcards, and product catalogs. I could barely lift by carry-on because of all of the goodies I collected at the show.
Expect the next couple of weeks to showcase a plethora of NSS products and patterns, along with several famous New York sights. It was so fabulous to leave LA for a bit and travel across the country for some fresh inspiration. Although I did realize there's no place like the west coast for entree salads and fresh juices (our trip consisted of way too many croissants and sad fruit plates with token cantaloupes) we had a blast roaming through diverse New York hoods and perusing the design talents of local designers.
The best part of the show, even better than hoarding all the fun paper products, was meeting all the incredibly gracious exhibitors. We chatted with so many design studios from all around the country, big and small. I am excited to feature some of their unique stories here. Stay tuned....
For some process photos from the show, check out my instagram feed here.
Photos feature HelloLucky, Wink Greetings, Pei Deign, Yellow Owl Workshop, Smock Paper, An Open Sketchbook
May 26, 2013 
