Custom Order: Octopi, Revamped

Spring is finally upon us, and with it, bicycling season.

I just finished a custom helmet for a girl named Natalie out in California. It was my first official commission for Ferocious Ostrich Helmets, and it was so much fun to collaborate and create something unique for someone all the way across the country.

Natalie liked my original octopus design, but decided to put her own spin on it, requesting purple and green octopi with a blue and gold background. I found some great iridescent gold paint for the background and accents. These pictures were taken before I applied the glossy sealant, but the gold was still super cool in the finished product.

While I like coming up with my own designs, I think custom work is really where it's at. I'm looking forward to my next custom order. And thanks to Natalie for being an awesome first customer.

So how about it, Pittsburghers--have you been taking advantage of the good weather?

Headgear

UPDATE: I'm officially selling helmets at my brandy-new Ferocious Ostrich Etsy shop. Check it out!

When I bought my bike last summer, I decided that I wanted some seriously fun headgear to go with it. I searched around the internet for a while, and then figured I would do what I do best: I'd buy a boring helmet and paint the crap out of it.

I worked without a plan, setting up shop on the coffee table in the living room of the house I rented with two roommates and painting to the sounds of horrible cable television. It was a pet project. And when I was done, I was in love with it.

The idea of painting more helmets and selling them has been brewing in my brain ever since. It's been over a year since I painted my first helmet, and I finally have a second one to add to my repertoire:

 
It's currently up for sale at a fundraising event for my local library. I'm not sure if it will sell, but just putting a price tag on something I've made has made me feel bold. I'm ready to sell these puppies.

But first, I have to get painting.

Photo Challenge

I've never participated in a photo challenge before, but I've always wanted to try it out. When I saw this challenge posted by Elle Moss Photography, it seemed doable; so i signed up. It's very low pressure, and I like the categories.

I decided that I'd keep it simple for myself--I'll be using my iPhone to complete the challenge, and posting the results to the ferocious tumblr. 

Part of the challenge, for me, will be finding photos every day in a place that I'm not particularly fond of. Even though Pitt's campus can actually be quite pretty, I have a hard time seeing it sometimes. I'll have the most luck taking pictures on my lunch break, though, and it's already doing me some good to look at campus with a new set of eyes.

Yesterday was day one: Favorite Colors. We'll see how long I can keep this up.

Summer Bike Style

Oh friends. I made a pact with myself to ride my bike to work as often as possible this summer, and since the weather broke last week, I thought I was safe. Yesterday, though, I should have suited up a bit better, because it was cold. I think I almost lost a few fingers.

With thunderstorms in the forecast today, I gave myself a break, but I plan to be back in the saddle tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some things that have me thinking about summer biking in the city.

1. This I'm with Bluegrass t-shirt is merch from one of my favorite bands ever, the Punch Brothers (any old-school Nickel Creek fans out there? Anyone?). I get to see them on April 16th, and you can bet your booty this shirt is coming home with me. 16-year-old me is already jealous that she didn't get to wear it first.

2. This is one of my favorite maps of Pittsburgh, by Commonwealth Press. I live in Greenfield--can you spot it?

3. While we're talking maps, Woodcut Maps might be my new favorite design idea ever. Choose a location on Google Maps, choose up to four different woods, and they'll ship your map in two weeks. How beautiful is that?

4. Yes, this is a planter that attaches to your bike. Yes, it is orange with a teal elastic, and yes, it is holding succulents. No more needs to be said about this.

5. I'm addicted to gray sneakers, and these ones by Born look right up my alley. Sure, they're $95.00 a pair, but this is my bloggy dream world, so I'll do what I want. ((P.S., did anyone realize that Simple Shoes is on hiatus? So very, very sad. I should grab a pair from Zappos before they disappear forever.))

6. I can't wait to make one of these jersey, finger-knit bracelets, as shown in Vanessa Christenson's how-to. Can I rewind to a couple years ago when I donated all those old college t-shirts during a closet binge? There are accessories to be made!

The weather was perfect for my lunch break, so I got to have a nice lunch with my favorite boy and even sneak in an orange-pineapple ice cream cone. I'm so, so glad that the sun is back.