Racing Stripe Patterns

Since cool cars have racing stripes, I thought it would also be cool for my bicycle handlebar bags to have them. Then I thought that the racing stripes didn't have to be plain, but they could have pattern to them. Here are a couple of racing stripes in adhesive-backed vinyl that are to be made into handlebar bags. After I put the racing stripe on the tarp I thought they might look good as artwork, too.

I really like how a decal can become the focal point. There's a lot of utilitarian vinyl tarp out there, and using decals is a good way to draw the focus to a specific point in the design, and to make a boring piece of vinyl sing!

Update: thanks to my customers who purchased these bicycle handlebar bags at Market Collective.

Steampunk Notebook/Journal

"By day, I work. By Night, I Write" notebook. I was staring at the steampunk background for quite some time and searching for inspiration for quotes on topics of working, factories, and writing. Finally it came to me what text to put on it. I aligned the text with the curves on the background. This item is available for purchase here, unless someone else gets to it first!

Graphic Design Course is finished!

All my homework can be found at this location:

http://picasaweb.google.com/SewnAgain/GraphicDesignHomework#

For my last bit of homework, I interpreted a painting that my instructor Liane Amendy did http://lianeamendy.com/, and gave it the graphic novel treatment.

Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams

This is an excellent book on graphic design principles. It simplifies it to four principles: contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity. Also gives insight into what all those different fonts are all about and how best to use them.

Great insight on creating newsletters, flyers, business cards, etc.

Graphic Design Course Book Cover

I have to design a book cover using only text and geometric elements plus one other color along with black and white. Here's my first attempt. How is it coming across, do you get what the book is about? Comments appreciated! I will tell you what my teacher thinks of it after next Tuesday's class.

Update: Well, it didn't work, people didn't get it. I thought with the additions I had from the first draft, the word "Recycled" and the "Things to Make with Them" that the design would work. But, they didn't. My problem is that I was having trouble coming up with a new idea so I went with this one. Someone also thought that the grommets were part of a film strip.

I guess I learned that sometimes what is needed is to go back to square one rather than being committed to a design that isn't working.

I just joined Twitter as Sewnagain

In other news, I started a class last night in Graphic Design at the University of Calgary. That should complete my 250 or so hours for my Certificate in Visual design.

Update: I changed the twitter ID to VinAlly because that's what I'm now focusing on.