Thursday 27 June 2013

Save your RSS feeds before Google Reader closes!

The end of Google Reader
Google Reader is officially over on Monday next week, but don't be afraid - the other feed readers have made it super easy to import all your Google Reader stuff with no hassle and in some cases keeping all your bookmarks, stars, and categories. So if you like to keep up with all the bloggyness in one place via RSS, here are two of the most popular options...

Bloglovin' - A popular choice for many people. It looks great and is pretty good with functionality. This article has a very comprehensive look at what you can do with Bloglovin' and how to do it. Find Happiness is.. on Bloglovin' here.
Follow Happiness is... on Bloglovin' - a good replacement for Google Reader

Feedly - This is what I use. I switched over quite a long time ago, just because I found it looked better than Google Reader and I liked the functionality, which is very similar to GR. Here's an article explaining a bit about how it works and what you can expect. You literally just have o sign up and they import everything automatically, you don't even have to do anything. Here's Happiness is... on Feedly.
Follow Happiness is... on Feedly - a good replacement for Google Reader
If you haven't used RSS feeds and readers before, give it a try! It's a great way to keep up to date with all your favourite blogs in one place, and way more convenient that bookmarking. And it's really pretty simple!

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Business Cards and Party Tags

Business card design for Durban freelance illustrator and graphic designer, Fathima Kathrada at Happiness is...
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have seen some shots of my new business cards. 
The problem: I've never quite felt happy with my business cards, and then I realised it's coz they feel so impersonal when they just share your name and basic contact info. Yes, that is the point of a business card and that's how they are usually done, but I wanted something more. 
The solution: I turned my business cards into an introduction and a keepsake of sorts. I did this by using a friendly greeting and conversational wording on the front along with the necessary info; I wanted to make it feel like I'm talking to you when you read it, so I kept the tone fun and informal. Then on the back I used close-up crops from my sketchbook to create an interesting visual element that will hopefully encourage people to keep it around and visible a bit longer than they otherwise might. And instead of just one design, I did twelve!
What do you think? 
Business card design for Durban freelance illustrator and graphic designer, Fathima Kathrada at Happiness is...
Business card design for freelance illustrator and graphic designer, Fathima Kathrada at Happiness is...

Did you go to the Durban Etsy Craft Party last week? Here are some tags I got to decorate for the event!
Illustrated gift tags for the Durban Etsy Craft Party by Durban freelance illustrator and graphic designer
Illustrated gift tags for the Durban Etsy Craft Party by Durban freelance illustrator and graphic designer
Illustrated gift tags for the Durban Etsy Craft Party by Durban freelance illustrator and graphic designer
I'd love to hear your feedback! :)

Monday 24 June 2013

Free July Calendar Printable

July calendar free printable download by Happiness is... freelance graphic design and illustration
It's already July next week! I was so stoked by the positive response to the June calendar and I really hope it was useful. Here's another free printable calendar for July featuring original hand drawn and watercolour illustrated elements by me. If you have any suggestions or comments about it, I'd love to know, so please do share :) Enjoy!

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Buttons & Blooms and Beautiful Bouquets

Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
I was working from the Antique Café the other day and couldn't help but stop and snap these beautiful flowers at the stall outside by Buttons & Blooms. A lot of them were so unusual, and just looked so lovely in the afternoon light. Next time you need an impressive bunch, pay them a visit! 
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
Buttons & Blooms - Florists at the Antique Café in Morningside, Durban
They all look so beautiful and kind of romantic and French on the little veranda. Find them at 93 Churchill Road, Morningside, Durban or visit their blog.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Fun new stationery stuffs!

My winning package from the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter
Feeling a bit under the weather today so posts may be a bit slow this week, but look what I got in the post the other day! I was super lucky to win the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter! As you can see, it was quite a load of goodies, including 10 rolls of washi tape, a wooden clip set, a 28 piece wooden alphabet stamp set, a pack of cute sticky notes and a brown tag notebook. What a treat!
My winning package from the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter
My winning package from the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter
My winning package from the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter
My winning package from the Doolally Daisy giveaway run by Clever Bird Banter
I love the new Carve-a-Stamp kit they've just got in, check out all their cool products here!

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Creatures of the Night

Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Bryan Cusack is a super talented sculptural artist making waves all over the place with his incredible animal driftwood sculptures. I got to check out his recent exhibition at the Factory Cafe - it was truly something to see...
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack
Bryan is part of The WoodShack, a collaboration with Natasha Deary. Together they have extensive experience in the woodworking and design industries and use this to create a wide range of high quality indoor and outdoor projects. Their original art pieces and sculptures are created from driftwood gathered on the beaches of the Wild Coast and KwaZulu Natal. Work from the WoodShack is also currently available at the I Love Pop Up Shop at artSPACE Durban.
Creatures of the Night - an exhibition at the Factory Cafe with Bryan Cusack of the WoodShack

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Hello Man, an exciting new online store - for guys!

Hello Man, an online store for cool stuff for guys
By now you should be familiar with the awesome online store, Hello Pretty (where I have my goods on sale). They've just launched Hello Man, a brother site to Hello Pretty for guy's stuff! Get on over there and check it out and let all your man-friends know too.

Monday 10 June 2013

Beautiful Instagrammed typographic compositions

Typographic compositions by pomverte on Instagram
I'm crazy about these typographic compositions by pomverte, aka Stéphanie, on Instagram. They're all so beautiful and well-composed. All her other images are great too, I find her whole feed so inspiring...
Typographic compositions by pomverte on Instagram
Typographic compositions by pomverte on Instagram
Typographic compositions by pomverte on Instagram
 Check out more on Instagram.
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