My name is Tricia, and I think Britney Spears is superb.  Perhaps I am biased (B and I are birthday twins), but Britney rarely fails at executing handsomely exhilarating pop songs.  “Toxic“?  Glorious.  This gift guide is full of exceptional things for the pretentious Britney Spears hater, the Britney Spears supporter, and anyone else who obsesses over iTunes genre classification (like me!).  Hopefully, you’ll find something here that will make your wee music lover’s heart flutter.  Remember!  You can go straight to the appropriate vendor by clicking on the products above!

1.  What distinguishes Newbury Comics from other music retailers is its impressive selection of autographed CDs.  Incredibly affordable, these CDs are dosed with exclusiveness, and are perfect for the music collector.

2. One of the best movies I have seen recently is Control.  Based on the life of Ian Curtis, this film masterfully captures the turbulent, charred life of the Joy Division-frontman.  Sam Riley is an impeccable Ian- he timidly swaggers at the right moments, and illustrates both Ian’s mental discord and ceaseless struggle between youth and adulthood.

3. I used to be a headphone killer.  Well, I might still be a headphone killer…I’m not sure.  Prior to getting a quality set of headphones, the maximum lifespan of any headphones I owned was THREE months.  As always anticipated, the sound would only come out of one ear, which beckoned a final era of complete silence.  I’ve had my current headphones for two years, and am now convinced that headphones are worth investing in.  Especially noise canceling ones.

4.  What is a stylophone?  A magical pocket-sized synthesizer!  The extraterrestrial pings in David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”?! STYLOPHONE!  If I haven’t convinced you yet, please watch the video below of a stylophone medly.  (For the last ten minutes, I have been joyously giggling in response to this kid’s YouTube videos.)

5. SCENARIO!

Friend: I want to listen to Lil’ Mama “Lip Gloss”!
Me: I want to listen to MIA “Paper Planes”!  But we don’t own DJ Million Dollar Snake Babies’ Lipgloss + Paper Planes mix!
Friend: Well, thank goodness you gave me this tight iPod DJ Mixer.

END SCENE.

6. Music sharing, FIVE ways!

7. Devoted S&D readers already know that I am a huge fan of silkscreened music posters.  An additional reminder!  S&D previously featured artists, The Bubble Process, is still having their poster sale.  $10 for every poster!  They’re going quick, so buy now for the best selection! Go!

8. My headphones cord is excessively long.  *So* long, that I always get caught in the door.  If only I had this cute monster to gobble up the cord.

9. In high school, I loved Phantom Planet (RIP).  Fourteen year old me (past Tricia) spent A LOT of time sifting through the band’s website pictures.  Pictures which frequently featured the band and their lovely Orange amp.  As a result, my teenage behavior has trained me (present Tricia) to associate Orange amps with Phantom Planet.  These miniature Orange amps are perfect for the traveling entertainer.

10. This little Volkswagon bus is a RECORD PLAYER in disguise.  Underneath the bus is a needle, which helps guide the bus around the record.  The speaker is built into the bus!  The sound quality may be tepid, but the whole set-up is incredibly adorable.  Kitties.

11.  Perfect for the music and design lover, Cover Art By: New Music Graphics explores the CD/album art industry.

Happy birthday to me happy birthday to me. I don’t like getting older, but I do like getting presents, and while I don’t expect to get these presents, I can always dream. (Like my magazine-style image? Ohlala!)

1. iPod Touch. So, of course we’d all rather have an iPhone, but how many monthly bills can you add to your repertoire? I have an old-school ipod nano, so I’ve been visiting the Apple Store online and in my dreams. Sigh.
2. Headphones. Even without the new iPod Touch, I’d love some big-old, colorful, new headphones so that I can drown-out the world. Ear buds aren’t cutting it. (There were some even more colorful ones, once, but I can’t find them anywhere! They were made for me!)
3. Cupcake! They aren’t just cupcakes, they’re beautiful, elegant cupcakes. Making me hungry right now.
4. McSweeney’s Subscription. Beautiful books. Directly in your mailbox. (At least two of these mags were featured in PRINT’S Regional Design Issue this year!)
5. Duffel. Not a crappy-gym-bag duffel! It’s practically a PURSE.
6. Dress. You can do anything with this dress, so it’s really like getting a dozen dresses.

Sigh. Another year older!

11/15 — CONTEST HAS ENDED. Thanks for all your entries! Winners will be informed soon.

WIN one of these! We have TEN to give away! Just leave a comment below!

Yes, last week we gave away a poster. We didn’t want it ourselves or anything. It wouldn’t have looked perfect, for example, in a frame on either of our bedroom walls. So we were happy to give it away. Seriously.

Anyway, remember a few weeks ago when I reviewed an ipod case that looks like a cassette tape? Well, Stickers & Donuts and Proporta, who makes that case along with other ipod accessories, are giving away some cases for your third generation ipod nano (the squat one shown above). The prize pack comes with everything you’d get if you bought one for real:

• (1) cassette-case-looking ipod case (that doubles as a desk stand)
• (1) Y-Splitter so you can listen with a friend
• (1) pair of fabulously green headphones.

How many do we have to to give away? (10) TEN!!! Yes. So that means this is one of those not-that-many-will-enter but many-will-win situations. Let’s face it, Stickers & Donuts does not have the same readership as, say, Teen Vogue. So your chance of winning? Pretty good.

You can win by leaving a comment below. We are going to pick randomly so you can say “Hello” and nothing else, but we do prefer you say something fantastic like, “I’ve been reading your blog for months and think you are fabulous.” It won’t improve your chances of winning, but it will improve our mood.

If you are comment-shy, shoot us an email (use the subject line “case contest”) and we’ll put you in the running with everyone else. You’ve got until November 14, so force your family members to enter on your behalf.

Yes, it’s different! I dyed it red and got bangs. Ohhh… you mean with Stickers & Donuts, well, yes, that has changed a little, too. We now have MORE SPACE thanks to my friend and co-adventurer Misa. I realize that now all of my other pages, formatted perfectly to the smaller width, are a little funny now. Also, I now have to blow dry and straighten my bangs. Change always comes with its share of problems.

As for this week’s current obsessions (for other weeks, click here)…

1. The lyrics to Gravity Rides Everything by Modest Mouse. Listen to the song (a random youtube version), read the lyrics, and then analyze them. It’s fun! If you need help, I’m willing to cheat.
2. Then, listen to Story by Brandi Carlile (if you are pressed for time, 2:52ish is my favorite part!). The lyrics to this one are a little more obtainable. I’ve also been thinking it would be a good wedding song. Not that I’m getting married. I’m just saying.
3. I am in love with Forever 21. It’s inexpensive, but also classy. One of my favorite finds were these black leggings (which actually come in other colors, too) that have little buttons at the ankle! Only $6.50!
4. As you may know, one of my favorite stores is H&M. I am in love with their pointy-black heels ($30) and have worn them every day this week with outfits from skirts to dresses to jeans (to black leggings from Forever 21). Basically, they make any outfit a little classier.
5. Gingerbears! They are like gummi bears, but a little harder and made with the added bite of ginger. I got mine from a mysterious co-worker, but apparently you can find them at Trader Joe’s.
6. Healthy dessert! Greek Yogurt (also called Drained Yogurt), is thick yogurt, drained of most of its water. If you need to make yourself, NYTimes will tell you how. If you can buy it at the grocery store (I can) I recommend the 2% variety (tasty and saves fat, but the no-fat is not as tasty or vitamin-y). You can use this yogurt as cracker dip, for example, but you can also eat it plain, or ADD HONEY. I recommend about a tablespoon of honey for a half cup of yogurt, but you can adjust to your sweet tooth. Mix it in and enjoy!
7. SPACE! As stated in the opening paragraph, I’m excited about our extra-blogging-wiggle-room.
8. If you are wondering about the unicorns, I may or may not have added one to a document at work, just to find out if my document was actually being read (negative!). Sneaky, sneaky.

CLICK HERE to WIN a 3rd Generation Ipod Nano Case from S&D & Proporta!

Remember our post on the 10 Best Resources for Cassette Tape Nostalgia (I’m actually feeling nostalgic just thinking about it)? Well, I just found an ipod-cassette-tape hybrid to add to the list, and since it’s a musical-day on S&D (yes, GO WIN A POSTER!), I thought it would be the perfect time to post!

Proporta kindly sent me their Playback Pack ($29), an ipod classic case that looks like a cassette tape (an ipod trapped in cassette-tape’s body, if you will).

I must say, I’m smitten with the thing, which is not quite a surprise because I love the symbolic joining of old and new, but nonetheless, this cassette tape is also very functional (if symbolism doesn’t cut it for your casing-needs). If this case had a personality, it would be sort of hipster-cool but also secretly servile (ironic!).

Here are my favorite features: (that and more pics after the jump!) (more…)

In September, we put on our party shoes and pranced to the beat of eight sickity slick poster artists.  Honestly?  There was definitely some earth, wind, and fire summoned.  (eh? eh? Don’t worry, This Babybel is just getting warmed up!)  Halfway through the ppaarrttyy, we introduced you to the wonderful Jason Munn (The Small Stakes).  If you paid close attention, you already know that Jason created 20 limited edition prints for Insound.

Well, my little pumpkins, you’re in for a hexose-y treat.  Recently, Insound asked us if we wanted to take part in their amazing Insound 20 contest.  20 posters to give away, 20 different websites (and we’re one of them!!!)  Maria and I have both been soo excited, that for the past week our internet exchanges have featured more “!”s and “:D”s than usual!

Insound & Stickers and Donuts are giving away THIS Black Heart Procession poster from the Insound 20 collection!!@#!%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:

DEETS:

1. This is an exclusive opportunity!  Only Stickers and Donuts readers have the opportunity to win THIS poster.

2. The prize is hand-numbered! Some number between 1 and 200! We are not just tossing around that “limited edition” term- WE MEAN IT!

3. Remember, Insound 20 supports 826NYC, one of Stickers and Donuts’ favorite charities!  After you enter, browse around!  Support creative writing programs for kids!  Wee!  (Psst, Insound sometimes includes treats in orders!  I once received a surprise in the form of a MIA poster!)

With all this power (we have the poster to give, suckas!), we considered different contest options.  Perhaps we should make our readers balance a tower of donuts on their heads?  Have them profess their love for us in the form of an ode (documented on youtube, of course.)? (How 21st century!)  Or maybe a font identification test?  Ultimately, we realized that hazing is bad.  This is our first contest, and it’s too early for some panhellenic mischief.  So, all you have to do is… CLICK HERE.  Fill in your name.  Fill in your email.  THE END!  SO QUICK! SO EASY!

Stickers and Donuts will announce the winner on Tuesday, October 28th (one week to enter!)

ENTER ENTER ENTER

The title of this post is pretty awesome because I AM currently obsessed with Ian Dingman (check out my interview with him, or some selections of his work), but this is a Currently Obsessed post BY Ian Dingman, a Stickers & Donuts first, because so far only Tricia & I have disclosed our current obsessions.

While making the image to go along with Ian Dingman’s obsessions, I signed up for the Social Music Revolution (that’s Last FM’s tagline). I haven’t quite mastered it yet, but so far it seems like a combination of Facebook, Pandora, & iTunes Genius. Moral: With a little practice, things other people are obsessed with, you can become obsessed with, too.

Anyway, you aren’t here to learn about me! Here are Ian’s obsessions, written from his very own fingertips:

1. I’m definitely obsessed with last.fm and Facebook. For the longest time I tried to avoid social networking and to remain cryptic and enigmatic, but I eventually broke.
2. I can’t work without listening to music, so I take in records in a large volume. I’ve been listening to a lot of OMD, Clientele, Clinic, and Underworld lately.
3. Just finished Marjane Satrapi’s “Embroideries” and enjoyed it.
4. I just got back from visiting Vancouver where they’re preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics, so I’ve been digging all the mascot art.
5. Lastly, I guess anything orange and black has caught my eye lately… it is that month of the year.

From Maria, a note about the fonts I used in the above picture: These are two of my favorite fonts, and I found them free at dafont.com! The handwriting font is Jellyka - Estrya’s Handwriting by Jellyka Nerevan who runs cuttyfruty.com and the header font is Barnes Erc by Eric Wiryanata who runs thunderpanda.com.

Happy Friday! Posts are going to be light and/or non-existent through Tuesday (LSATs / GREs!!!!)! This post is long. Save half of it for Monday? xo

I blame Tricia & Bobby Solomon for the messiness of this post.

First of all, Tricia’s study-supply-heavy currently obsessed post prompted me to write my own study-supply heavy currently obsessed post. (Hopefully, between the two of us, your next study session will be super-productive (and you will gain five pounds).)

Bobby Solomon doesn’t know who I am, but I read his blog & am really obsessed with his desktop wallpaper project. He has twitter (so does Stickers & Donuts!) and commented on Ben Fold’s new album with a song featuring Regina Spektor, which I also love, and in usual internet-fashion I now feel really connected and really creepy.

ANYWAY, right after laying out the images for this post, I discovered this week’s desktop wallpaper featuring Billy Murray on Bobby’s blog, and (instant obsession!) had to squeeze it into my post. Due to a layer error and time constraints, I had only so many choices in reorganization. Alas. Messy.

Anyway, after the jump, long descriptions (procrastination) of the things in the picture. Also, links.

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Hello friends! In my very first issue of currently obsessed, I’d like to share some things that I’ve recently been consuming/listening to/lusting for. As you can tell from all the picks, I am in study mode. Non-mechanical #2 pencils? Check! Candy and coffee? Double check! (Note: My productivity is correlated with candy consumption. Legit.  Kind of like Felicity’s pre-med roommate and her M&Ms, minus the pre-med part.  Or, Michael from the Princess Diaries and HIS M&Ms. ) The Life Aquatic violates this set from being completely study-related (I can only intake a limited amount of David Bowie. Especially when I’m trying to “critically” read.), but this is currently obsessed…so no discrimination allowed. Ciao!

• I got a pack of Ticonderoga tri-writes last month. They are wonderful! I hold writing utensils awkwardly and incorrectly (it’s not my fault!) (my hand basically looks like it is itching to punch someone…I know you were trying to picture my awkward-looking hand…). They sharpen very well (I love my Maped sharpener!). As the name implies, the pencil is triangular- a built in pencil grip! Also, these pencils don’t run away when you throw them down in frustration. How obedient!
• Trader Darwin (Joe)’s Gummi Vites are the best! I have a really difficult time taking vitamins. I never remember, and when I do, I cringe when I see the submarine-sized pills. Bleh. These make taking vitamins so much fun! They might be too much fun, however, because I have definitely been taking more than the recommended amount. :( Trader Joe’s, $4.99 for a bottle of 70.
• Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about Bill Murray. As part of the Chicago Air & Water Show a month ago, he jumped out of a plane. I thought it was particularly funny that the Chicago Tribune chronicled his jump, minute by minute. The search feature of the Chicago Tribune website is stumping me right now (as is Chicago Tribune’s distasteful usa-todayification…which re-affirms the New York Times’ superiority…REALLY? DO YOU THINK I’M AN IDIOT AND NEED A PAGE-BAR TO NAVIGATE A NEWSPAPER?), but here’s the gawker article that mocks the Chicago Tribune’s Murray coverage. Just last week, Bill Murray was in the news again in regards to his apparent approval of an upcoming Ghostbusters film. Anyways, with all this Bill Murray nonsense, I realized that I still did not have the soundtrack to The Life Aquatic. I have been listening to it since I got it this past weekend, and it’s pretty good. I’m not ready to declare where it falls in my personal Wes-Anderson-soundtrack rankings (Royal Tennebaums and Rushmore are exceptionally tight), but this one is great.
• At Trader Joe’s they sell this licorice in 1lb tubs. When you put a twisty chunk in your mouth? Utter bliss. Inspired by this post on Mindy Ephron’s blog, I went searching for a tub of Kookaburra at Trader Joe’s.  Although it may not be Kookaburra, the licorice still tastes like the best masticated-fruit roll up ever.  I can finish a tub, by myself, in less than a day. :( Trader Joe’s, $3.99 for a 1lb tub.
• This is one of the most clever devices that I have ever seen. The Pentel Handy-lineS Memorization Aid Highlighter Set (whew! what a name) includes a green highlighter, an eraser marker, and a piece of red film. As you can already tell, this is not a normal highlighter. So let’s say that you have this monstrous exam on world capitals. You have in your notes, “Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan.” While you’re studying, you highlight “Thimphu,” because you want to make sure it is ingrained in your head. Also, highlighting keeps you from falling asleep. After you’ve reached Zimbabwe on your list, you’d like to test yourself to see how much you’ve retained. Instead of awkwardly covering up your highlighted capitals with your fingers, all you have to do is cover your notes with the red film. Result? The film masks your highlighted text, and you can’t read it! Test away! When you’re done studying, you can even un-highlight test using the eraser. MAGIC! Available at JetPens, $5.70
• Moonstruck Chocolate Company is one of the best chocolatiers. They make really great truffles, and their chocolates are always well-balanced and not too alcoholicy (like Godiva). There used to be a lovely company-owned Moonstruck Cafe on Michigan Ave., but it closed. Womp womp. As a result, one of the only places you can get Moonstruck chocolates downtown is Macy’s. Moonstruck has a few cute signatures, including their ice cream cone collection, cupcake truffle collection, AND critter truffle collection. Similar to their iconic critter truffles, “Election Collection 08″ features elephant and donkey truffles! How patriotic! The elephant is a dark chocolate extra-bittersweet ganache, and the donkey features Moonstruck’s Mayan Ganache (milk chocolate, almonds, cinnamon). Also of note, the last time I was at the State Street Macy’s, the only election truffles left were elephants. I find this amusing and very telling. Available at Moonstruck, $15 for a collection of four.
• Sometimes I go to Caffe Rom twice a day. It has gotten so excessive, that I feel like they know me pretty well. I think I’m on my way from becoming “medium americano girl” to “Tricia.” This graduation is sort of exciting, and sort of embarassing. However, this is one of my favorite places to get coffee. It reminds me of my ex-barista days, and the espresso is good. I gave Intelligentsia a chance (actually two chances), and it was pretty gross. Unwelcomingly sour. And, whenever I go to Starbucks, I always spill. Probably because the hippie free trade coffee gods are trying to punish me. Karma is a bitch when you are wearing something non-black.

Tricia’s poster party is over. The end. Archives. History. Gone with the wind.

Are you hungover? I am.

In case you want to re-live the past (I do), Click here & scroll to take a trip down poster-party-memory-lane, or just use this post as a kind of poster party table of contents!

Tricia & I thought it would be fun to bring the poster party to a close with a summary which embraces and connects all of our wonderful poster party artists. In Tricia’s brilliance, she came up with the following:

Pete Cardoso recently acquired some notable Elvis recipe magnets, and a wall of Kevin Mercer’s home features a velvet Elvis. Kevin Mercer loves Robert Rauschenberg, whom Tad Carpenter strongly supports. Tad Carpenter happens to be inspired by Golden Books, which Mike Laughead cites to describe his design aesthetic. Perhaps as wee tots, Mike Laughead could have compared Ninja Turtle sketches with Leia Bell (and Sean of the Bubble Process). Leia Bell and Mike Klay cosmically both own a few Jay Ryan prints, which (if the stars were super aligned) might be the same prints. Mike Klay is inspired by the Pacific Northwest, which Sean might also enjoy since he is currently obsessed with the woods. Sadly, Sean does not get to see his teammate, Rez, very often (Rez described this unfortunate situation as QUOTE “SAD< CRYING RIGHT NOW>”) because he lives in Brooklyn, New York. This great state happens to be where Jason Munn made his best recent purchase: Japanese design books. Whew.

To recap:

1. Introduction
2. Tad Carpenter
3. The Bubble Process: Nicholas Rezabek and Sean Higgins
4. Leia Bell
5. Powerslide Design: Mike Klay
6. The Small Stakes: Jason Munn
7. Ghost Town: Pete Cardoso
8. Largemammal: Kevin Mercer
9. Mike Laughead
10. Buy these posters for cheap!

That’s it! Stickers & Donuts may be slightly hibernated (I know, that’s grammatically & scientifically incorrect) for a week or two, as our editors (all two of us!) have to take (1) GRE and (1) LSAT. But we do have some fun things planned (ie Tricia’s first currently obsessed! How to dress like a poet!). Yay!

The end!  The end!  The end is here!  Before you take off your party hats (…and start digging into that party fruit) (oh michael scott!) one last exclusive interview with…MIKE LAUGHEAD.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MORE ADORABLE GENE SIMMONS?  Fact.  Mike Laughead is foremost an illustrator.  However, he also designs posters (which is why he is being included in our series) with his friend Tyson under the name…wait for it…wait for it…MIKE TYSON. Har har.  Although Mike Tyson Design has not designed an extraordinary number of posters (PS what a strange sentence…Mike Tyson…posters…), it has released some rad-a-ma-tazz prints.  Quite (cannibalistic-y) fierce.

Ratatat
2 color screen print

This Ratatat poster was my computer background for four months.  The scarfy banner that is tangled up in the beard is great!  This poster reminds me of Día de los Muertos (perhaps it’s the cool skeleton?), which is coming up soon.  ALSO, THE (semi) KNEE SOCKS ARE SUPER TIGHT. I love stripped knee socks!  I even wear my old soccer ones for shit and giggles.  Sometimes.  When I’m nostalgic for my youth.

One of Mike’s strengths is his ability to integrate halftone effects!  For those curious kiddies who dream of one day creating their own photoshop compositions with halftones, Mike has an ultra-helpful halftone tutorial on his website.  In ADDITION to that, his website includes a pictoral guide to his illustration process!  Wee!

…section four of a particularly CHARMING Mike-comic, Unicorn Girl.  Mike is inspired by comics, and has quite a few on his website!

What a lovely way to end!  Mike Laughead is a brilliant illustrator, who has impressive credentials.  From designing winning shirts for Threadless and La Fraise (like Threadless, but foreign) to book covers for Scholastic (see above!), Mike’s work transcends age demographics and geographic boundaries.  His compositions are best described as playful and cute, always full of bold lines and saturated colors.  Mike goes into more depth about the Mike Tyson Ratatat poster, and his describes his passion for Meximelts after the jump. (more…)

On this penultimate day of S&D’s poster party, I present to you the great KEVIN MERCER.

Spoon
2 color screen-print

As previous poster party posts suggest, I think overprints are magnificent.  One of the most special aspects of screen-printing is the capability to create overprints!  I love the layers of color, and the partial opacity of the ink.  This exclusive get-to-know-Kevin-Mercer is an extra special treat, because HE IS A MASTER OF OVERPRINTING.  The above poster was inspired by the Spoon song, “My Little Japanese Cigarette Case.”  The asiany lion is slickity slick!  It reminds me of Chinese New Year parades and lion dances.

TV on the Radio
3 color screen-print

THIS POSTER IS OUTRAGEOUSLY AWESOME, and proves his strong command of complementing colors.  Hardly afraid of using S&D-bright colors, Kevin creates wonderful compositions full of stellar textures and graphics.

Arcade Fire
4 color screen-print

Kevin’s compositions have an exalted aesthetic, and are characterized by delicate hand-sketches.

(left to right) Fortune Magazine illustration, book jacket design

Those who want further affirmation of his heightened sense of style and unarguable talent should take a peak at his commissioned pieces.  Kevin has done work on behalf of large clients, and has demonstrated great versatility.  Above are samples, an editorial illustration (for FORTUNE MAGAZINE!) and a book jacket. Wee!

In 2006, I received a CD sampler from Polyvinyl Records (note visual above).  I immediately fell in love with the CD sleeve. Not only do I get to listen to a band with “Boris Yeltsin” in its name…I get to own a pretty CD case too? Woah.  TOO MANY COOL POINTS TO COUNT.  Thus began my obsession with Kevin Mercer.  Kevin designs under the alias Largemammal Print, his delightful design company.  Although Sydney Bristow may be able to survive a North Korean(<insert any other minority here, because TV shows like playing the racist card..cough cough 24 ..cough>) firing squad, in terms of impeccable art, she has nothing on Kevin.  Learning more about Kevin Mercer is only a skip-it count away.

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Ever since last week’s introduction teaser, I’m sure you’ve been wondering, “who is that glorious male adjacent to a giant elvis chicken?  He must as cool as Skeeter Valentine.”  Well worry not, little one.  You are about to meet the elvis chicken man.  Pete Cardoso.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
2 color screen-print

…HOW ADORABLE.  Three years ago, Maria and I (and another editor of the Public Journal) watched the fourth editor leave our upstate-new-york-cafe-meeting on a moped.  With her boyfriend.  What followed this event was an echo of “sighs.”  This poster reminds me of that panda-precious moment.

Elvis Costello: 3 color screen-print

I love, love, love this.  The colors are great and the portrait of Elvis is perfect.  Oh and I love Elvis Costello!  Triple score! (Confession: I started listening to Elvis Costello when I became a Gilmore Girls watcher.  I was a wee young one who had big aspirations to be as cool as Lane Kim.)

(clockwise) The White Stripes: 2 color screen-print, The Living Things: 3 color screen-print, The Hold Steady: 6 color screen-print, Low: 2 color screen-print

What I find especially exhilerating is his female illustrations.  They remind me of women on 1950s sewing patterns!  In his White Stripes poster, he uses the iconic White Stripe color pallete, but makes it his own!  And The Living Things poster is so vivid!  Serial Killer Housewife? I think so.  The contrast in texture in the ultra glamorous Low poster is great too!  On one final note, I really hate the Hold Steady, but I love this poster (and Art Brut).  I once saw Art Brut sing Smiths songs in a tiny kitchen! (LEGIT.)

Death Cab for Cutie
3 color screen-print

Ever since reading a very interesting article in Monday’s New York Times about the Babar exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum, I keep thinking about elephants (remember “The Elephant Show”?!).  This Death Cab print is so wonderfully illustrated!  The golden curly swirls add a great, delicate touch to an otherwise wrinkly animal. (Not that there’s anything wrong with wrinkles).

Roky Erickson
3 color screen-print

Now for something different!  Pete does a glorious job capturing the psychadelic-santa-claus that is Roky Erickson, and portraying him as a cracked out Genie.  One of my favorite baristas (who will no longer make me my americanos womp womp) first introduced me to Roky.  This led to many youtube videos, and my now familiarization with Roky Erickson.

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“you tell us.  which one has the astigmatism?”

(clockwise) The Flaming Lips: 3 color screen-print, Modest Mouse: 2 color screen-print, Explosions in the Sky (2): 4 color screen-print, Explosions in the Sky: 3 color screen-print

…so I didn’t know what an “astigmatism” was until the acuvue twin commercial.  It inspired me to question, “well do *I* have an astigmatism?”…leading to an inevitable google search.  Good advertising?  I suppose so.  Anyways, HAPPY SMALL STAKES DAY!!!!!  The Small Stakes (aka Jason Munn)’s elegant work has earned him mad cred in the art and music worlds.  As a result of this attention, Jason’s work is easily recognizable and has popped up everywhere.  Unlike those pesky Chuck E. Cheese bucktoothed animals, Jason’s cotton-crisp graphics and well-balanced compositions are too beautiful to bop.  There are various themes throughout his work, including eyes (above!)…

(clockwise) Broken Social Scene: 2 color screen-print, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: 2 color screen-print, Wilco: 3 color screen-print, The National: 2 color screen-print

…birds (the broken social scene bird: NATURAL SELECTION is a bitch.  oh but those poor Wilco birds: :(…they look like peeps that have been smeared on the bottom of a shoe)…

(clockwise) Matt Pond PA: 2 color screen-print (a 2 poster set), Feist: 2 color screen-print, Animal Collective 2 color screen-print

…frilly feathery swirls…

(clockwise) Built to Spill: 2 color screen-print (part of a 2 poster set), Why?: 2 color screen-print (also comes in silver!), Battles: 2 color screen-print, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: 2 color screen-print (part of a 2 sided poster)

…CLEVER TYPOGRAPHY…

(clockwise) Damien Jurado: 2 color screen-print, The Magnetic Fields: 2 color screen-print, Nada Surf: 2 color screen-print, The National: 2 color screen-print.

…and Escherian tessellations/op-art fun!  In 9th grade geometry class, the teacher made us write papers that connected a personal hobby to geometry.  I was really into op-art at the time (I went to geometry nerd camp and we drew op-art all day)…HOW CONVENIENT.  So maybe I was a cheater.  At least I was honest.  And smart.  There was a kid that chose tractors.  No comment.

In this fifth installment of S&D’s poster party extravaganza, I am honored to present to you the illustrious Jason Munn.  Jason has had the opportunity to work for a diverse set of clients including Against Me! (2005’s album design? That was Jason.), Chronicle Books, Death Cab for Cutie, Feist, Little Otsu (a S&D favorite! remember our post on notebooks and planners?), New York Magazine, Patagonia (nature!), and Random House.  Furthermore, his work is on permanent display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  HEAR FROM Jason and LISTEN TO ME RATTLE ON LIKE A PROUD BABY MAMA after the jump.  Click Clack. (more…)

Based in Portland, designer Mike Klay seamlessly fuses his passions for drawing and halcyon Pacific Northwest landscapes.

Closing In - art print
2 color screen-print

Beautifully pensive, his latest prints, “Closing In,” capture the satisfying sight of tree-canopy-filtered light.  Furthermore, these GLOW-IN-THE-DARK (oh em gee), and thus prove that not all fluorescent posters have to be of psilocybinic mushrooms (Made by sexually-unsatiated Spencer’s gremlins.  Which work to the monotonous hums of Family Guy.  The more you know.  Shooting star!).

The Early Thaw - art print
3 color screen-print (WITH METALLIC BRONZE)

I love how the sun rays are represented in this print.

Mountain Goats
3 color screen-print

…edelweiss!

Simian Mobile Disco
3 color screen-print

This mad baller Simian Mobile Disco poster was chosen as a GigPosters Poster of the Week.  The faint background of advertisements looks great behind the ultra-glamorous girl.  And I love the movement in her hair!  Super hair commercial-worthy.

Minus the Bear
2 color screen-print

…morbidly delightful.

I am delighted to present to you MIKE KLAY MONDAY (tight shit).  I love how his work gorgeously reflects his life spent surrounded by West Coast scenery, and his use of clean, strong graphics.  He has had the chance to work for a wide range of clients: from Wilco to many local Seattle businesses.  Plus, he sent one of a stupendous photo of himself to S&D.

..as one S&D reader commented, “the totally rad mustache middle-picture-man is rocking.”

Well reader, here is what you have been waiting for.  Learn more about Mike Klay, his design company Powerslide Design Co., and his desire to sell his condo.  ONWARD for the interview!

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