Fotofluff Color Palette

I love, love, love the site COLOURlovers. Today I added my fotofluff palette to their system. It's the first one I've actually contributed to the site. The best part was that 3 of the colors in my palette didn't exist on the system yet, so I got to name them. Silly, yes, but I got a kick out of it. I'm especially proud of Joss Whedon Beige. Palettes can also be downloaded as desktop wallpaper. Sweet!

Scrappy Fonts

Scrapbook-ish and handwritten fonts can add whimsy and warmth to a design. I've zipped up an archive of scrapbook fonts for download. Below is a sample of some of my favorites from this collection. I've also included some links to some free sites where you can download scrapbook fonts and create your own handwritten fonts.

Samples:


Download: Scrapbook Fonts Zip (5.4 MB)

Free Scrapbook Fonts

Scrap Village
http://www.scrapvillage.com
Kevin & Amanda
http://www.kevinandamanda.com

Create Your Own Handwritten Font

My First Font
http://www.myfirstfont.com
Fontifier
http://www.fontifier.com

Goodies For Tuesday

Vector Freebies & Tutorials
http://createsk8.com
All the vector your little heart could desire.

Jared Christensen Portfolio & Blog
http://www.jaredigital.com
This site is hot. And pink. Yummy portfolio site.

Unmatched Style - Design Gallery
http://www.unmatchedstyle.com
Serving up some stylish designs. Nice source for inspiration.

Top 50 Design Blogs
http://www.davidairey.com
Blogs by designers. Check 'em out, yo.

Misc Design Links

http://www.stripedesigner.com
You need stripes? You got it.

http://www.colourlovers.com
I love this site. Fantastic for scooping up great color palettes. Save your favorites and download swatches for PS and AI.

http://redalt.com/Tools/I+Like+Your+Colors
Nab css colors from a favorite site.

http://www.vecteezy.com
Free vectors? Who doesn't want free vectors? A treat for download-happy designers like me.

http://www.brusheezy.com
Brushes, brushes, and more brushes. Check out their pattern section while you're there.

Some Little Gems

Just thought I'd share a couple of fun links I came across today.

PatternHead
http://www.patternhead.com/
I love this site. Raster and vector patterns for designers.

Today's Inspiration
http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/
Simply the coolest little blog about vintage illustration from the 40's and 50's.

Some Yummy Firefox Extensions

I thought I'd share some extensions that I have found handy and a few, recently discovered, that I'm taking for a test drive.

Loop
Upload, convert and combine your files to PDF from a tidy toolbar, without the conversion getting in the way of your Web browsing. LOOP for Firefox allows you to convert and combine files to PDF with the click of a button.

Firebug
Firebug integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of development tools at your fingertips while you browse. You can edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page...

Snipshot
Edit any picture on the web with one right-click. The picture will be brought into the online image editor Snipshot where you can crop, resize, rotate or recolor it, then save it into a variety of formats (JPG, GIF, PNG, PDF) or to Flickr or a free image host.

Who Is This Person?
Highlight any name on a web page and see matching information from LinkedIn, Wikipedia, Google News, Technorati, Yahoo Person Search, TailRank, ZoomInfo, IMDB, MySpace and more...

LinkedIn Companion for Firefox
LinkedIn is an online network of more than 10.5 million experienced professionals. LinkedIn helps you be more effective in your daily work and opens doors to opportunities by helping you develop and manage your network of business contacts.

ColorZilla
Advanced Eyedropper, ColorPicker, Page Zoomer and other colorful goodies.

Palette Grabber
Creates a color palette for Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP, or Flash based on the current page.

Patterny Goodness

So, having survived hectic holidays, a breakup, a move to a new house, and the Ice Storm of 2007, I think it's time for a bit of blogging.

Today's menu? Patterny goodness. To be served with a piping hot, fresh side of links (hyper, that is).

I find patterns very inspiring. Here are some of my favorite resources.

Pattern Books:

Vintage Fabric from the States
Put this one on my wish list, please.

You Work For Them - Patterns
Peruse their entire pattern section. Where else can you pick up book of camo patterns that's been secretly haunting your dreams? That camo book comes with it's own CD-Rom, by the way.

Celtic Design
All the celtic motifs and designs your little heart could ever want. Cd-Rom included.

Blogs:

Print Pattern
Self described "designer and trend forecaster with a passion for pattern in all its forms." A Yummy, yummy pattern blog.

Naked & Angry
Submit pattern designs to be scored and manufactured into "blow-your-mind" products. When you get done with that wander over to the blog. If you have a hole burning through your pocket stick around and buy some wallpaper.

Misc Resources:

Create perfect photoshop pixel patterns
I don't care what anyone says, tiled web patterns are HOT.

Free patterns
Nice little collection of free web patterns you can use on your own site.

Online electronic swatchbook
Facinating. Samples of fashionable fabric designs from the 1830's to the 1920's. You can zoom in very close. (Nice use of the zoomr app with flash)

Symmetry and Pattern
Sound smart the next time someone asks. Applies to more than just oriental carpets, too.

Articles:

Symbolism in Asian Motifs and Patterns
Ever wondered what the recurring patterns in Asian textiles and dishware mean?

Africa's Painted Patterns
A little insight into those bold geometric patterns.

Traditional Patterns In Korea
Finally, someone explains what's up with all of those dragon patterns.

Inspiration:

Dan Funderburgh
I'm losing my mind because these pattern designs are that cool.

Josef Frank - Textiles
These are amazing textiles. I'm personally in love with "Loops".

Funkis - Fabrics
Lots of fun and funky patterns.

Flickr photo - Thursday love
Love this little photo and all the great notes describing the origins and history of these fun patterns. Why don't more people do this? Start taking pictures of your patterns. It looks like fun. Do it. Do it now.

Flickr photoset - Patterns
Luv it.

Whew. That's more than enough patterny goodness for one day.