personalize it

I happened across a new site with special sales and what to my wondering eyes should appear but one of my first loves: typography! Combined with the personalization....and the idea for Christmas gifts...unique...made in the U.S.A....the list goes on and on. See for yourself:

photos courtesy: AntiqueFarmHouse.com





See what I mean?

Check out Jami Clune's blog: Freckled Laundry | DIY vintage chic or if you're like me and your wheels are turning with ideas for gifts, visit the Antique Farm House to purchase some clay tags of your own. But do it soon...I'm not sure how long their deals last and know the individual tags are already sold out.

Joy!

new ways to say 'thank you'

in many languages

Give thanks.

much ado about...not much

On Thursday there were a bunch of suits that gathered at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Among those were the Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Vice President of Brand Management Charlotte Jones Anderson, and Xavier Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski (Chair of the Division I NCAA Men's Basketball Committee).

On the agenda: the reveal of the 2014 NCAA Final Four logo.

With it being only the seventh Final Four played in Texas (second in the North Texas region and after a nearly 30 year hiatus), obviously the Big 12 along with close by fans in the Midwest are happy with the news. Said Bobinski: “As we kick off the next 75 years of March Madness, Cowboys Stadium will get to host its first Final Four.”

Yes. I, too, am thrilled with the news of a venue that certainly feels more like home. But that's not what this blog is about....it's about design. Duh. So here it is...the logo.

courtesy: Big12Sports.com

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Or are you lukewarm like me? The bevels, embossing, and metallic effects of the 'Final Four' are really quite nice. And that's about all I have to say about that. I was very much looking forward to the unveiling but to say the results were disappointing is an understatement.





courtesy: @Big12Conference [twitter]


I am much more impressed with this photo that @Big12Conference tweeted! Of course, who wouldn't be impressed with a 160 foot video screen?

____________

And for those of you basketball fans out there: you can apply for tickets to the 2014 Men's Final Four through the NCAA's random selection process March 18 - May 31, 2013. Visit www.NCAA.com for more details.

Cowboys Stadium is also the site for the 2013 South Regional, which takes place March 29 and 31. Tickets to those Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games are available by visiting www.NCAA.com/mbbtickets.

attention Kansas drivers

Are you heading to the DMV? If so, I wish you short lines, helpful and friendly employees, and a photo that resembles more of you, less of the haunting-form-of-self that you wouldn't recognize even on a bad day.

Even if all the above wishes were to come true, there is yet another thing that would be new to this visit—the overall design of the license itself.




BEFORE
Courtesy Kansas Department of Revenue





AFTER
Courtesy Kansas Department of Revenue



The new license design boasts numerous security measures which make it even harder for fakes to be produced. According to a news release from Fox 4 News KC, those updates include:        

• Ultra-violet image of the cardholder’s portrait and date of birth on the back of the card (viewable with UV light)
• Multi-colored, highly detailed holograms
• Highly detailed ultra-violet (UV) image of the state flower (viewable with UV light)
• Two ghost images of the cardholder’s portrait in addition to the conventional photograph
• Tactile printing that you can feel

You had me at tactile printing!

As mentioned before, Kansas’ driver’s license and ID card design was last changed in 2004; states typically change their designs every four to six years.

"The new Kansas driver’s license card is among the most secure in the country," said Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Dean Reynoldson, who also oversees the department’s Office of Special Investigations, which investigates driver’s license fraud. "The card, combined with a new more secure driver’s license and ID card application process, makes Kansas one of the most difficult states to commit driver’s license or identification card fraud."

One thing hasn't changed—the format for printing cards for drivers who are under 21 years of age. Those licenses will remain in a vertical format so it's easier to tell if the cardholder is of a legal drinking age or not.



the 'under 21' license
Courtesy Kansas Department of Revenue