New Year, New Blog

For the past several weeks I have been working with Web designer Justin Kropp on creating an actual Web site for my work and my blog. So very soon I will be launching eedickinson.net. Stay tuned...

Big Boyz

As seen at Friends bar in Fells Point. Photo by Seth Sawyers.

'Tis the season for best of lists and countless retrospectives, so I'll add to the growing pile with the Best Marketing Technique of 2009. And the winner is...Big Boyz Bail Bonds. Sad, but true. Anyone living in Baltimore has likely seen their blazing pink and yellow ballpoint pens peaking out of restaurant aprons and pleather credit card folders. I've seen them in offices, coffee shops, college classrooms... Nearly as many pens as there are bail bond locations. I've been told that reps from the company drop these off by the bagfull in vans emblazoned with the Big Boyz logo. I've also been told that the pens have a knack for breaking open and bleeding blue ink all over you. I should insert some serious social commentary on the industrial prison complex and the truth that these pens portend, but I'll let the garish, prolific, oozing pens speak for themselves.

Market Forecast: 2010

For Architect magazine's December issue, I spoke with experts in different sectors of the architecture and construction industry to find out what they think will happen next year. Here's what they had to say...

RIP I.D.

More bad news from the world of design. F+W Media announced yesterday that it will fold I.D. magazine. After January, the 55 year-old publication will be no longer. This ranks up there with the loss of Gourmet in my mind. Another stalwart publication bites the dust.

The publisher released the following statement to explain their decision:

The fragmentation and specialized information needs of I.D.'s core readers (product designers) and the plethora of information resources available to them—some for free (online and B2B) and others that are highly specialized and targeted to specific industries served.

F+W will continue to produce Print.

Holiday Shopping

A long hiatus from blogging. I went to Paris over Thanksgiving. When my husband and I returned to the U.S., the customs officer looked suspicious when we said we were bringing absolutely nothing back with us (besides higher cholesterol and an extra five pounds). The exchange rate just sucked, so no gifts from abroad. Back in Baltimore today and the weather can't decide if it wants to rain or snow. So for now, it's snrainy. We've got a fire going in the wood stove, but I'm going to venture out into the inclement day and join my friend Lisa at the Charm City Craft Mafia Holiday Heap sale over at St. John's Church. A sneak peak at some of the vendors below. Runs until 5 PM today in case you're in town and want to head over.


Letterpress cards from Bowerbox Press.


As someone who likes to keep handwritten journals when I travel, here's a map of Florence book by Bowerbox Press.





Screenprints from 2Hawks2Fishes. They have a wonderful collection of rock posters from local bands.



Flasks by Maneating Flower



Ceramics by Little Flower Design